Source: Tanzania Daily News
On May 5, a police gender and children desk was opened here as a milestone in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

"Having a police gender and children desk is an achievement, but we all need to stand against the problem," said Ms Rahma Ali Khamis, the Director of Children and Women Development Department in the Ministry responsible for women and children affairs.

She said at the launch ceremony of the Police Gender and Children Desk at Bububu police station that it is possible to end GBV if everyone takes the problems seriously.

"Are we happy to see our children abused? Are we ready to see our family members traumatised? Certainly no... we need to protect children and women," she said.

She thanked the police force for fighting injustice in the society, saying the gender desks play a key role in ending violence against children and women.

"We also thank our partners in the war against GBV - the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Savethe- Children International (Tanzania) and the European Union - for supporting our initiatives," Ms Khamis said as the EU Ambassador to Tanzania and East Africa Community, Mr Filiberto Ceriani, Mr Sebregondi, commended Zanzibar for its commitments to end GBV.

The launch of the Police Gender and Children Desk at Bububu police station was part of the EU Day 2015 celebrations in Zanzibar where Mr Sebregondi also promised strengthening of the police force to deal with crimes against women and children. "Violence against women and children cuts across geographical boundaries, race, religion, and culture.

It is global injustice and it is never justifiable," he said. He said the EU considers abuse of children and women as violation of their rights and that is why it is committed to fight the crime.

According to Mr Sebregondi, Zanzibar official statistics show that there is an average of one case of violence against children daily. He said one out 20 girls and one out 10 boys are reported to have experienced at least one incident of sexual violence before the age of 18.

"Real figures are likely to be much higher because many survivors of violence never report to the authorities," he said at the ceremony officiated by the Regional Commissioner for Urban West Region, Mr Abdalla Mwinyi Khamis.

According to a survey sponsored by EU in 2012, physical and sexual violence is even more prevalent against adult women and that one out of five in Unguja and one of three in Pemba said they experience such a crime.

The EU envoy also said heartbreaking stories of abuse, neglect, women being battered and raped are rife in Zanzibar. In his memorable speech to the audience, Mr Sebregondi gave accounts of desperate families forcing their daughters to marry those who committed offences to them for lack of justice from the courts.

"So justice is what the victims of violence seek for. Justice is why we are all here. Today I have lots of hope for women and children of Zanzibar.

While addressing violence against women and children remains critical challenge, it is good that important steps have been taken to implement a progressive agenda for the protection of children rights in line with international standards," the envoy said.

He said EU commends the government for the enactment of the Children Act in 2011 which represented a groundbreaking moment for the protection of children rights.

"I congratulate the ministry of empowerment for its leadership for the development of a national programme of child protection and child justice before.

This shall go a long way in enhancing the rights and protection of all children in Zanzibar," he said. "The EU is delighted to be able to contribute to these efforts in partnership with Zanzibar government with highly capable organizations such as Save-the- Children-Tanzania, UNICEF and others and our support is to the tune of Euro 3 million (6bn/-).

"We wish to acknowledge and pray for the recent approval of National Strategy for child justice and reaffirm EU commitment to support its implementation in partnership with UNDP and UNICEF as part of our broader support to the government national legal sector reform programme."

The EU staff also applauded the police for the firm commitment to strengthening response to GBV as well as the handling of cases of juvenile offenders.

"I applaud the establishment of specialist police unit - the police gender and children desk in all the 34 police stations in Zanzibar and I am proud EU was able to support these efforts," the envoy said, adding that under the legal sector reform programme, the EU has pledged to support the training of all designated police gender and police desk officers.

Mr Sebregondi said that the support since last year (2014) has involved developing partnership with UNICEF to come up with appropriate guidelines and training materials and supporting the role out of training of police officers in all regions across Unguja and Pemba.

Each police station has at least two specialized police officers that know how to respond to cases of violence against women and children; and to handle children in conflict with law with high profile professional standards.

"The government and development partners are helping to make and improve the necessary laws, but you need to see more practical action to ensure the end of GBV.

We need to continue raising our voices and work together against GBV," said Mr Ameir Haji Khamis, president of children councils.

• Tanzania