Across Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, IRLI works alongside justice institutions to strengthen trauma-informed practice, improve coordination, and remove barriers to access — so justice protects, not harms.

By David Siess

To address this challenge, together with our partners, and to advocate for improved conditions for children's rights, we have analysed the approaches taken by countries such as Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Malawi to identify lessons that can be applied in Tanzania.

Update 2025: The conviction referenced in the article, below, has been overturned by the Court of Appeal, which found that serious interpretation errors during the trial compromised the fairness of the proceedings. The underlying trial verdict therefore no longer stands.

Irish Rule of Law International continues to monitor developments in prosecutions of female genital mutilation (FGM) and remains committed to supporting robust legal frameworks, fair processes, and justice for survivors.

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By Aoife Lawlor

*Content warning: violence against women, child cruelty, and genital mutilation*

IRLI's Tanzania programme is aimed at providing access to justice to victims of child sexual abuse (CSA)–building on Ireland's experience of investigating and prosecuting such matters. While Ireland has general expertise in CSA matters, this is not the case for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a practice which is more common in Tanzania. IRLI is monitoring the most recent developments in this Irish case of FGM.