Give women education, economic empowerment

Today, the world enters the second week of the programme entitled “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence”. In the past week, numerous issues have emerged. Women have spoken more openly on their plight while charting the way forward.

Gender violence is universal, much as cases in developing countries like Tanzania are exacerbated by lack of awareness on issues related to women’s rights.

In the UK, says a recent report, at least two women per week are killed by current or ex-partners, and one in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

In the US, domestic violence leads as the cause of injury to women aged 15-44: that is more than you can blame car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined!

Tamwa surveys over the years have been consistent that gender violence keeps rising in Tanzania despite harsh laws against child marriage, FGM and wife beating.

In a story we ran in The Citizen yesterday, a woman tells of how her marriage—one that was blessed with three daughters and two sons—ended in 2012 because she was firm the girls wouldn’t undergo FGM despite their father’s insistence.

Her stand prevailed, and she has managed to raise all her children single handed, albeit with difficulties. She has managed because she runs her own business and hence, financially independent; she is reasonably educated and conscious of her rights and those of her daughters.

As the activism continues ahead of the climax on December 11, there should be more push on the notion of empowering women through education and employment so that they all become fully aware of their right to lead a dignified life.

That way, women will be able to categorically reject the antiquated notion that they are appendages of men. Yes; because they aren’t!