Challenges of Access to Justice in Tanzania to Obtain Legal Assistance for Street Children Facing Physical Violence by Police

Having access to justice in obtaining legal assistance and representation is a fundamental right of every child without bias and discrimination of any kind. However, premised on several factors that push children into the streets and the prevalence of violence against them, obtaining legal assistance and legal representation seem crucial to access justice when their rights are being violated. Street children who are victims of violence are entitled to legal assistance for the purpose of justice attainment in rights violation (OHCHR 2011:20 ), which indicates that street children deserves equal right in obtaining access to justice. But the lack of access to justice in respect of having adequate legal assistance and representation for street children when encountered with physical violence remains questionable in Tanzania as the observed gap in child protection laws unintentionally limits their access in obtaining legal assistance and representation.