Tanzanian private sector urged to help tackle gender-based violence

Dar es Salaam. A call has been made for the private sector to collaborate with the government to sustain educational initiatives on gender-based violence, with the goal of addressing and reducing child pregnancies.

The call was made during the Kondoa District gender festival that was organised to discuss the achievements of the Inclusive Development Vision 2050 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Conference.

The three-day festival, which started on August 27, has brought together representatives from various non-governmental organisations (NGO’s), government institutions, and various stakeholders involved in fighting gender-based violence.

Representing Kondoa residents, Viktoria Ikandilo asked the government to intensify efforts to combat such acts, including providing education and implementing strict laws.

"Many cases are resolved within families because some communities still lack understanding of gender-based violence issues.

This is why there are many street children who are mentally affected and a high rate of sexual abuse, as these acts often start at home and many parents do not address them because they are unaware of the harm,” she said.

According to her, holding the festival in their district was the right thing to do, as it will be beneficial in educating and motivating the government and stakeholders to invest more effort and impose stricter penalties.

Another resident, Veronika Nganguli, said the festival will help raise awareness among all groups so they can contribute to the national dialogue that will start in 2025-2050.

“It will especially help in providing opinions on leadership positions, the economy, health, education, and reminding about the goals of the Beijing Conference, which aimed to promote gender equality between men and women.

The conference helped liberate women, who now hold positions in many sectors, although there is still no equality compared to men,” she said.

Tanzania’s Gender Network Programme (TGNP), Director Lilian Lihundi, said the network will continue to implement the Beijing goals in collaboration with organisations advocating for women's rights and gender equality in the country.

She also stated that they will continue to encourage women to seek leadership positions to empower themselves and overcome abuse.

“Our decision to hold the festival in Kondoa is due to statistics showing that the district still faces significant challenges related to ongoing violence.

We understand that the challenge of child pregnancies is significant in Kondoa, but it requires substantial efforts from the community and the government,” she said.