DAR ES SALAAM: HUMAN Life International (HLI) has expressed plans to engage members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) in an effort to persuade them to challenge Bills that undermine East African culture values.
HLI Africa Regional Director for English-speaking countries, Mr Emil Hagamu said recently in Dar es salaam that some of the bills which need public scrutiny and should not contain provisions that, in his view, undermine East African cultural values, traditions and moral principles.
Mr Hagamu said the organisation had already launched an awareness campaign but emphasised that a long road lies ahead as they work to influence EALA lawmakers.
He noted that although HLI and other pro-life groups lack significant financial resources, they were relying on what he described as the region’s strong religious beliefs, traditions, and cultural foundations to support their efforts.
Mr Hagamu criticized the alleged lack of consultation with stakeholders during the drafting process and said HLI intends to meet the Speaker of EALA and individual legislators who share similar views.
He urged media outlets to support what he called an effort to safeguard regional ethical standards. According to Mr Hagamu, similar bills have been drafted since 2017 and have undergone revisions.
“The documents still contain harmful elements that could reshape community attitudes toward family, culture, and religious practice.
Mr Hagamu urged the public to focus on supporting laws that are essential for protecting women’s health and rights, objecting some clauses that contradict cultural norms and undermine family structures.