Local NGO pushes for end to violence against women, children
ONE of largest Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) in the country specialising in social marketing and behavioral change communication, T-MARC Tanzania, has joined other stakeholders in commemoration of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Speaking during the launch of campaign over the weekend, T-MARC Tanzania’s Gender and Youth Manager, Mr Abubakar Rehani, said the organization will conduct a series of event during the campaign which started on November 25 and slated to climax on December 10, this year.
The campaign is being coordinated by Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) in collaboration with other civil society organisations under their network for fighting gender-based violence (MKUKI).
This year’s campaign themed; “Every Life Matters: End Femicide and Violence Against Women and Children”.
Among other events, T-MARC Tanzania yesterday brought together various stakeholders in Morogoro region to discuss how to end violence against women and children.
“A report issued in 2020 showed that 65 per cent of murder cases were related to GBV and as such we (T-MARC Tanzania) have decided to join hands with other stakeholders to raise our voices against the vice,” Mr Rehani told journalists.
He added further that his organization is working with community development officers across the country to identify and address GBV.
“We also work with religious leaders and community radios to create public awareness on the negative impacts of gender-based violence in our communities,” he explained.
Adding; “We are proud to join other partners in commemoration of the 16 days of activism against all forms of violence against women and children.”
T-MARC Tanzania has been operating in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar since 2004 and it currently distributes male and female condoms as well as oral contraceptives in support of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, reproductive health and family planning programmes.
Other products distributed by the NGO include children and adult diapers as well as other product categories, branded and non-branded including anti-malaria drugs, Zinc, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), water disinfectants in collaboration with other partners.
Speaking during the launch of the campaign over the weekend, the Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special group, Dr Dorothy Gwajima said government in collaboration with stakeholders will from January next year start making follow-ups on establishment of gender desks at middle and higher learning institutions.
The move aimed at ensuring that the institutions establish gender desks in response to government’s efforts to eliminate GBV at higher institutions of learning.
During the similar event last year, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa launched guidelines for prevention and management of GBV and sexual harassment at middle and higher learning institutions, which would include, among other things, the establishment of gender desks.
