THE government has expressed gratitude to stakeholders working towards improving safety of girls and school children, saying sexual abuse remains a challenge in the country.
The Acting Assistant Director for Social Welfare Service at the Ministry of State, President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Amina Mfaki, made the remarks, noting that there are rampant cases of gender violence, including sexual abuse.
She noted that while there are strategies laid from the central government to local authority levels, there is need for other stakeholders to join forces in the fight.
She made the statement during an orientation meeting with officials from WAJIKI, a community-based organisation (CBO) from Dar es Salaam.
“The government alone cannot completely eradicate such vices within the society…this is why we highly appreciate efforts from other stakeholders,” she said, applauding WAJIKI for the good work it is doing.
According to her, any kind of violence negatively impacts those affected and also slows down development activities
WAJIKI is implementing a gender campaign in Ilala, Kinondoni and Temeke districts in Dar es Salaam Region.
The “Safe Journey for Girls and Schoolchildren without Sexual Corruption” Campaign, funded by Women Fund Tanzania, involves motorists and commuter bus drivers.
The organisation’s Director Janeth Mawinza said the campaign had been successful since its inception in 2018 because the involvement of motorists had brought about positive change in society.
She said they had decided to involve motorists and commuter bus drivers in the campaign because they were the ones who met many people, so it would be easier for them to disseminate information to other members of the public.
She said motorists conveyed GBV message through wearing T-shirts or placing stickers on their motor vehicles that denounced GBV against girls, women and schoolchildren.
Mawinza noted that motorists were believed to be among the groups spoiling and sexually abusing schoolgirls, fortunately they have helped change the mindset and help report cases related to GBV.
She added that equally, the campaign had helped a lot in breaking the silence on GBV.
“Initially harmful acts were done to children and were hardly to authorities but to date, we have managed to break the silence through various campaigns,” said the director.
According to Mawinza, data shows that seven in 15 women have experienced sexual violence, while three in 10 boys have been sodomised, while seven in 10 girls have experienced sexual abuse.
This, to her, is an indication that gender violence is still a problem in our society … It calls for concerted effort among members of the public and various stakeholders to fight against the vice.
The CBO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Hancy Obote on his part said they conduct campaigns by moving from “house to house” to fight sexual violence and promote “safe journey without sexual corruption” for girls and students with the aim of rescuing girls who live in a state of depravity and extreme mental stress.
On achievement, he said that the entity has succeeded in empowering women to get rid of social, political and economic challenges by knowing their rights.
