Photo: Lauren Everitt/AllAfrica POLICE in South Unguja Region, Zanzibar have started a gender and children's desk to fight violence against women and children in the Isles.
Swedish Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Lennarth Hjelmaker said when launching the desk that increased awareness is important in the campaign against abuse in society. "Two-thirds of Zanzibar children are abused by people they know such as neighbours and family members.
I have also read that 10 per cent of children are abused before they turn 18. Society should work hard to end this problem," the ambassador said.
The occasion was attended by people from government departments, the police force, civil societies, lawyers and activists where Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Kaneth Kaseke said the police force is determined to end violence.
He said that the gender and children's desk is important in the war against abuse, anticipating a drop in cases of violence against women and children. He observed that the special desk will be receiving cases involving child sexual abuse, gender based violence, rape, defilement and other physical assaults against women and children.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Welfare, Youth, Children and Women Development, Ms Fatma Gharib Bilal thanked development partners including Save-the- Children in boosting government efforts to stop violation of women and children's rights.
South Unguja Acting Regional Commissioner, Mr Abdallah Mwinyi Khamis said at the function that Zanzibar still faces problems of violation of women and children's right necessitating multiple measures to stop the menace.
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