Tanzania, UN women in joint bid to curb violence, sexual abuse

KIGOMA: THE Tanzanian government has partnered with the United Nations Women’s Organization (UN WOMEN) in a joint drive to curb domestic violence and sexual abuse against women and children in the Kigoma region

The initiative, christened Kigoma Joint Programme (KJP) drew stakeholders in a meeting that also assessed and took action against domestic violence and sexual abuse.

During the meeting, the stakeholders urged parents and families in Kigoma region to provide sufficient cooperation in preventing actions of violence and sexual abuse against women and children, which is what causes such actions to continue.

Speaking during the occasion Kigoma region’s Community Development Officer, Msafiri Nzunuri, made the call when opening a two-day meeting with human rights stakeholders and directed to have a special programme that aims to curb domestic and sexual violence cases in six districts of Kigoma region.

Nzunuri said that despite stakeholders’ efforts to combat violence, they failed to get good cooperation from parents and family members, and that in one way or another, disrupted legal procedures from being executed.

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In retrospect, the Kakonko District Court’s Resident Magistrate, Ambilikile Kyamba, said that despite the existence of strict laws to address violence and sexual abuse cases, parents and family Members have been most often reported to destroy evidence and sometimes provide evidence that defends the accused.

Kyamba said that the situation is largely due to people’s lack of understanding of the steps to take when they are subjected to actions of violence and the consequences it has on the victims of such actions of violence.

The Director of the Kigoma Vi Development Agency (KIVIDEA), Babu Pascal, said the traditions and customs of oppressing girls have had a major negative impact on society, which is causing the continuation of actions of violence without the community taking steps to address the situation.

Due to this situation, Babu Pascal said that education should continue to be provided, and all stakeholders should work closely together to ensure that appropriate measures to combat violence are taken.