Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 7 & 8 November 2009 — Relim Entertainment Limited and BANG! Magazine with support from UNIFEM- Tanzania, held a 2 day retreat, Dare 2 Dream, in Dar es Salaam. The event was attended by 200 young professional women and successful women entrepreneurs and business women. The retreat encourages women to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. Dare 2 Dream supports a yearlong mentoring program for the women and provided an excellent opportunity to discuss work-life balance, dreaming big, and women’s rights in the workplace.

 Often many women do not know their rights in the workplace and frequently endure uncomfortable and even violent situations. A common, but often accepted form of violence is sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment is not a light issue and affects women worldwide in all levels of employment. In Tanzania, the Government has enacted the Sexual Offenses Special Provisions Act (SOSPA), which under Section 138 states:

 Any person who, with intention, assaults or by use of criminal force, sexually harasses another person, or by the use of words or actions, causes sexual annoyance or harassment to such is liable to conviction to imprisonment, two hundred thousand shilling or to both the fine and imprisonment, and may also be ordered to pay compensation of an whom the offence was committed for any injuries caused to that person.

In addition to addressing the rights of women outlined in SOSPA, UNIFEM introduced the Calvert Women’s Principles®, the first global code of corporate conduct focused exclusively on empowering, advancing, and investing in women worldwide. The 7 principles include:

›      Employment and Compensation

›      Work-life Balance and Career Development

›      Health, Safety and Freedom from Violence

›      Management and Governance

›      Business, Supply Chain and Marketing Practices

›      Civic and Community Engagement

›      Transparency and Accountability

It was recommended that all mentors and mentees know the protocols and policies signed by the Government of Tanzania in order to enforce the Government’s responsibilities to uphold the law. It was also recommended that employees insist that their employers sign on and implement the Calvert Women’s Principles®. Lastly, the participants pledged their commitment to the Say NO-UNiTE- End Violence against Women campaign and to be involved in future activities to end Violence against Women. The retreat will be an annual event with the goal of mentoring 10,000 African women. Dare 2 Dream was a successful, encouraging event full of energy and hope for a brighter future for women in business and as entrepreneurs.