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Stakeholders propose new ways to combat GBV
A gender coordination officer from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Ms Gift Msowoya, makes presentation during a seminar on GBV in Zanzibar over the weekend. PHOTO | THE CITIZEN CORRESPONDENT
What you need to know:
- The government had already started implementing measures to combat gender violence, including providing education to the community and thanked all stakeholders from non-governmental institutions who have been cooperating with the government on the goal of eradicating these acts.
Zanzibar. Officials from the government, NGOs and academics who met here at the weekend have resolved to work closely in combating gender-based violence (GBV).
They also recommended that it was necessary to conduct a detailed research on the problem so that they can come up with scientific solutions.
The Founder of the Center to Advance Research on Health in Africa (CAReH Africa), Prof Gbenga Ogedebde of NYU Grossman University in the United States, said it was the responsibility of academicians and especially African scientists, to conduct research on GBV and related challenges in communities.
That way, he said, it will help in finding scientific solutions to eradicate the challenges.
According to Dr Bonus Sizya from Care Africa, GBV was currently affecting all groups of people in societies, hence the need to join hands with the government in educating the community on the issue.
They discussed various issues that should be done by the government such as policy, getting rid of oppressive laws, creating a friendly environment for the main victims who are affected by these acts, especially girls and women and providing education to the community to oppose acts of GBV.
“However, the education issue is also the responsibility of various stakeholders, including abandoning bad traditions that encourage these acts,” said Dr Sizya.
Prof Chinwe Ogedebde from the Hackenack University of Health and Medicine said the increase in GBV cases were also related to the challenges of mental health diseases in societies and so it was important to conduct more researches.
In her presentation, the gender coordinator from the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, Gift Msowoya, said the government had already started implementing measures to combat gender violence, including providing education to the community and thanked all stakeholders from non-governmental institutions who have been cooperating with the government on the goal of eradicating these acts.
