WiLDAF awards 16 anti-GBV champions

WOMEN in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) have awarded 16 champions who have made changes in the society towards the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through various activities.

The GBV champions were awarded on Friday as part of commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence which commenced on November 25 and being climax today (Dec 10).

The theme for this year’s commemoration is ‘Every Life Matters: End Femicide and Violence against Women and Children’.

Speaking after receiving the award, Founder of Zaina Foundation, Ms Zaituni Njovu said she managed to train over 4,000 women on how to use digital platform without facing sexual violence.

Ms Njovu said many women fear to use social media due to sexual violence as a result they miss out various opportunities available on such platforms.

She said her organisation   trained such women so that they can also be part of the community accessing various opportunities available on social platforms without facing any kind of violence.

Another champion who won the award Ms Fausta Urassa said her disability was due to an accident but she was abandoned by the community.

‘I decided to stand up and establish my organisation which focuses on helping people with different disabilities,” she noted.

She said through her organisation, various people with disabilities receive training and being encouraged to work hard regardless of their disabilities so as to succeed in their lives.

For her part, WiLDAF National Coordinator, Ms Anna Kulaya, said her organisation started giving the awards in the past three years since 2020.

The awards are being provided in collaboration with development partners with aim of recognising the contribution made by ordinary Tanzanians in efforts to eradicate sexual violence in Tanzania.

“This year is different because the champions are just ordinary citizens who are not famous but they have done great things in the society” she explained.

She said the scrutinising process has taken a long time because there were more than 3,000 applications but at the end, they only got 16 champions who we will work with them for the whole year 2023 so that they can continue their efforts,” she stressed.

Ms Kulaya added the champions are from 16 categories, among others,   eradication of child marriage, female genital mutilation and sexual violence against women and children.

“We believe that Tanzania without sexual violence is possible if everyone in her/his position will take action to fight such acts,” she concluded.