Source: Daily News
A WEEK before Christmas, reports from the Police Gender Desk (PGD) at the Urban- West Police head Office in Zanzibar revealed how a 45-year old father defiled his own 12-year old daughter.

Investigations into the crime continue, but word has it that the alleged suspect had divorced his wife and was staying with his daughter. When the mother's daughter and other relatives welcomed the child in a traditional festival, they discovered that she was no longer virgin and was in fact a 'connoisseur.'

"My father raped me several days. I suffered a lot but later, I got used to it. I now share a bed with him," the girl was quoted as saying, sparking anger in the family and the neighbourhood. Her story echoes a common pattern of such cases involving children in Zanzibar.

Although more than 300 cases of sexual violence were reported last year alone (Police, Courts statistics), many go unreported or without follow- ups. Journalists are required to change their tactics in reporting abuses. The majority of reporters covering sexual violence do not investigate to find details of perpetrators and also most cases lack follow-ups.

In an effort to address the problem of child marriage on the islands, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) have been working closely to guide journalists on how they can improve reporting on sexual violence and child marriage in Zanzibar.

While journalists admit to have weakness in reporting abuse cases, UNFPA and TAMWA believe that with improved reporting, child marriage and sexual violence cases can be minimized.

Some of the things which miss in abuse stories coverage are the history of convicted sex offenders, which may reveal that the majority of rapists are serial predators who often begin committing sexual violence as adolescents.

Ms Arafa Yahya from the 'Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)', and Mr Omar Sururu from the 'office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)' said in a meeting with journalists that the media coverage should stress the importance of education as a successful way to empower young people to stop rape.

Sururu, a lawyer, said that when journalists ignore to find details about sexual violence and child marriage, the bad practice will persist. "The media should help educate and shape public opinion about what works to stop sexual violence," he said. He said that the frequency of news coverage shows media's apathy towards sexual violence, and that problem of underage marriage and other abuses often go unreported.

The lawyer said: "When you expose issues like child marriage, you can make a big difference. Children being forced to get married need their voices to be heard, and therefore advocacy against these practices should be your critical assignment."

Arafa argues that sexual violence and child marriage are still not well covered by many media, "that is why you only hear rumours in villages but would not read or listen about it in the media."

She said that more people need to know that sexual violence is a problem in our society, by frequent coverage; the media can help get the muchrequired attention about this issue. The FAWE officer says studies, like the survey conducted by ActionAid in 2012 indicates that child marriage is high particularly in rural areas of Zanzibar.

She said that with enough media coverage it makes it easier for activists to talk about reforms. Activist and media consultant Ms Asha Abdi says despite intervention by political and religious leaders, sexual violence and child marriage remains a problem. "This requires media attention commitment."

Sexual violence, according to many definitions including WHO, is any unwanted sexual act or activity including but not restricted to: rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, rape within marriage / relationships, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, trafficking, sexual exploitation, and ritual abuse.

Sexual violence can be perpetrated by a complete stranger, but normally by someone known and even trusted, such as father, a family member, and a partner. Sexual violence can happen to anyone. No one ever deserves or asks for it to happen. Many countries have Sexual Offences law, with the objective to improving preventative measures and the protection of individuals from sexual offenders.

According to the 2012 survey by ActionAid International (Tanzania), Unguja North A district, 18.6 per cent of married women surveyed were married between the ages of 12 to 15 years and 32.9 per cent were married between the ages of 15 to 18 years. In North B District, 19.3 per cent of married respondents were aged 12 to 15 years at the time of their marriage and 24.6 per cent were aged 15 to 18 years.

This means 48 per cent of all married women surveyed in North Unguja were married between the ages of 12 and 18 years. In Pemba, the percentage of women married between the ages of 12 and 15 years old is much higher than North Unguja with 35.6 per cent of married women surveyed married at this age. 26.7 per cent of women surveyed were married between the ages of 15 to 18 years old.

In total, 62 per cent of ever married women surveyed in Pemba were married between the ages of 12 and 18 years. Girls who enter into marriage early lose education opportunity to complete school and also face serious health risks.

Child brides are likely to become pregnant at an early age and face higher risks during pregnancy such as fistula, anaemia and eclampsia. Girls below the age of 15 who give birth are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their twenties. They are also at risk of obstetric fistula which has been associated with early sexual relations.

• Tanzania