Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator at launch of 16 Days of Activism against GBV

Your Excellency, Honorable Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Kassim Majaliwa;

Your Excellency Ambassador of Sweden to Tanzania, Anders Sjöberg                                                                                                       

Your Excellency Ambassador of Norway to Tanzania, Elisabeth Jacobsen

WiLDAF National Coordinator, Anna Kulaya,

Government officials,

UN Tanzania Representative,

UN colleagues,

Members of the Media,

Invited guests,

Mabibi na Mabwana,

Habari za Mchana na Asalaam Aleikhum!

Kwa niaba ya familia ya Umoja wa Mataifa Tanzania, ningependa kuwashukuru watanzania kwa kuungana na nchi nyingine duniani katika uzinduzi wa siku kumi na sita, za Kupambana na kupinga Ukatili, dhidi ya Wanawake na Watoto! Ninapata faraja kuona viongozi na wananchi tumekusanyika hapa kwa ajili ya tukio hili muhimu.

As many of you are aware, the United Nations adopted November 25th as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in honour of the brutal assassinations of the three Mirabal Sisters in the Dominican Republic in 1960.

Mheshimiwa Mgeni Rasmi,

Allow me to read the official statement from the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the launch of the 16 days of activism to End Gender-Based Violence campaign:

I quote:

“Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic.

It is a moral affront to all women and girls and to us all, a mark of shame on all our societies, and a major obstacle to inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

At its core, violence against women and girls in all its forms is the manifestation of a profound lack of respect – a failure by men to recognize the inherent equality and dignity of women.

It is an issue of fundamental human rights.

The violence can take many forms – from domestic violence to trafficking, from sexual violence in conflict to child marriage, genital mutilation and femicide.

It is an issue that harms the individual but also has far-reaching consequences for families and for society.

Violence experienced as a child is linked to vulnerability and violence later in life.

Other consequences include long-term physical and mental health impacts and costs to individuals and society in services and lost employment days.

This is also a deeply political issue.

Violence against women is tied to broader issues of power and control in our societies.

We live in a male-dominated world.

Women are made vulnerable to violence through the multiple ways in which we keep them unequal.

When family laws which govern inheritance, custody and divorce discriminate against women, or when societies narrow women’s access to financial resources and credit, they impede a woman’s ability to leave abusive situations.         

When institutions fail to believe victims, allow impunity or neglect to put in place policies of protection, they send a strong signal that condones and enables violence. 

In the past year, we have seen growing attention to one manifestation of this violence.

Sexual harassment is experienced by almost all women at some point in their lives.

No space is immune. 

It is rampant across institutions, private and public, including our very own.

This is by no means a new issue, but the increasing public disclosure by women from all regions and all walks of life is bringing the magnitude of the problem to light.

This effort to uncover society’s shame is also showing the galvanizing power of women’s movements to drive the action and awareness needed to eliminate harassment and violence everywhere.

This year, the global United Nations UNiTE campaign to end violence against women and girls is highlighting our support for survivors and advocates under the theme ‘Orange the World: #HearMeToo’.

With orange as the unifying colour of solidarity, the #HearMeToo hashtag is designed to send a clear message: violence against women and girls must end now, and we all have a role to play.

We need to do more to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

But, beyond that, it is imperative that we as societies undertake the challenging work of transforming the structures and cultures that allow sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based violence to happen in the first place.”

End Quote

Mheshimiwa Mgeni Rasmi,

Kila tarehe ishirini na tano ya mwezi wa kumi moja, Ulimwengu huungana, katika jitihada za kuhamasisha, haki za wanawake na watoto. Usawa wa kijinsia na kupunguza tofauti, ni kati ya malengo endelevu ya dunia. Malengo haya yamewekwa kwa makusudi, kwa kutambua kuwa, ili jamii iweze kuendelea ni lazima wanawake wawezeshwe kijamii, kisiasa na kiuchumi.  Maendeleo haya ya wanawake, hayawezi kupatikana, iwapo unyanyasaji wa Wanawake na watoto hautatokomezwa.

Nichukue fursa hii, kuishukuru serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, wadau wa maendeleo na mashirika yasiyokuwa ya kiserikali, kwa kuwa mstari wa mbele kuhakikisha haki za wanawake na watoto zinapewa kipaumbele. Hongereni sana kwa majukumu!

Your Excellency Prime Minister,

Today, in Dodoma participants from the Police, government, local NGOs, development partners and civil society organizations and mostly youth, the country active human capital meet together to raise awareness on, violence against women and girls and commit on taking responsibility to protect women and girls’ survivors of violence through this year’s theme: Funguka! Usalama Wake; Wajibu Wangu.

We know that there is no country globally that is free from violence – it permeates every society, class, race, and age group. Violence against women and girls happens not only in situations of conflict or crisis but also in peaceful contexts, in urban and rural areas, in both public and private spaces. It has severe long-term physical, sexual and mental consequences for women and girls, including death. Globally 1 in 3 women experience either physical and/or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner, at some point in their lives.

We are greatly encouraged by the Government’s efforts in its dedication and commitment for the launch and adoption of the National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children in both Mainland and Zanzibar last year. This year we have noted that several ministries have taken various initiatives that lead to prevention and respond to issues of violence against women and girls. 

In Tanzania, the most recent statistics tell us that almost 40% of women have experienced physical violence, and one in five women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. This comes at a significant cost not just to the women concerned but to their families, their communities and to the country as a whole. It is estimated that the loss in productivity associated with intimate partner violence alone amounts to 1.2% of Tanzania’s GDP.

Mwisho kabisa, ningependa kutoa shukrani zangu za dhati kwa niaba ya shirika la Umoja wa Mataifa linaloshuighulikia masuala ya Wanawake la UN Women, kwa kuungana nasi, katika siku hii muhimu, kupinga unyanyasaji wa wanawake na watoto, nchini Tanzania.

Mheshimiwa Mgeni Rasmi, nimalizie kwa kusema:

Kutokomeza Ukatili Dhidi ya Wanawake na Watoto Tanzania Inawezekana

Finally, I want to thank the steering committee including UN Women for organizing this important event on behalf of the UN System.

Hongereni na Asanteni Sana!