Source: Tanzania Daily News
Sumbawanga — GENDER Based Violence (GBV) can best be addressed through awareness drives spearheaded by the media to rid society of aggression which is a violation of human rights.

The call was made recently during a three-day training workshop for journalists on promoting gender sensitive reporting held here in the Municipality and sponsored by Tanzania Media Women Association (Tamwa).

The training attracted 20 journalists representing various media outlets from Mbeya, Rukwa and Katavi regions.

The facilitator Mr Ibrahim Bakari, a seasoned journalist stressed that the fact that the media is an imperative institution in assisting government in curbing GBV by assisting society to understand the laws and policies that are in place.

"GBV takes place within our very societies and have profound repercussions to the disadvantage of the health of women and children, which include psychological traumas and the possibility of contracting HIV/Aids," added Mr Bakari.

Several journalists agreed that there were some laws that have sections that touch on GBV but numerous fractures are needed for revision or updating of laws and policies concerning GBV. "There are some laws that have sections that touch on GBV but they have numerous gaps.

There is a need for revision or updating of the laws and policies that still support GBV," Dr Moa explained. "Customary law imposes women as equals on the division of property when a husband and wife divorce or are legally separated, however, it does not speak about GBV and it is silent on marital rape," shared journalist Ugrian Adolf.

The journalists' manual developed by Tamwa in June , 2013, cited that Tanzania has yet to recognise domestic violence as a crime, consequently, there are no reliable statistics on the extent of domestic violence. Where domestic violence is recognised only takes into account physical abuse which can be proven.

If there is no physical evidence of abuse, it is highly unlikely that the police or the counts will believe the complaint.

"The media has come long way in it reporting on domestic and other types of gender - based violence .... while stereotypes are no longer as prevalent, some media still suggest that the woman is to blame ....the violence is also belittled through the use of phrases such as domestic dispute and lover's quarrel, even where it ends in murder" .

• Tanzania