Irish Embassy raises awareness of Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania
News
08 March 2019
Moot Court Hearings in Tanzania
Irish Embassy raises awareness of Gender-Based Violence in Tanzania
Across the world, gender-based violence prevents the advancement of gender equality, women’s empowerment and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In Tanzania, a recent Demographic and Health Survey found that 40% of women have experienced physical violence and 20% have been subjected to sexual violence. There is also growing evidence that in Tanzania, ‘sextortion’ is becoming more common in many areas of everyday life, including workplaces, primary and secondary schools, health centres, higher learning institutions, and public service offices.
Holding perpetrators accountable for gender-based violence remains a challenge in Tanzania, due to ineffective investigations, and the intimidation and discrimination of survivors. In order to raise awareness among Tanzanians about the laws and procedures for addressing gender-based violence, Irish Aid recently supported the organisation of four moot court hearings during the 16 Days of Activism on Ending Violence Against Women (25 November – 10 December 2018). A moot court is a mock court hearing, where participants examine and debate a particular case.
The hearings were held in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mwanza and Arusha and were organised by the Tanzania Women Lawyers Judges Association (TAWJA), together with the Tanzanian chapter of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), and the MKUKI Gender Based Violence Coalition. The hearings focused on a case that involved non-physical forms of coercion that are used to extort sexual favours – also known as ‘sextortion’. In all four regions, the case was presented and judges made decisions based on the available evidence. Over 100 participants attended the moot court in Dar es Salaam including law students, university lecturers, representatives from NGOs and the media, and representatives from development partners. There was lots of media coverage of the events and they prompted widespread discussions in Tanzania on the need to address sextortion issues in the country.
Irish Aid works with partners in Tanzania to combat gender-based violence and we work directly with women and girls who have experienced violence. We seek to challenge social and cultural factors that perpetuate gender-based violence, andto create and promote a momentum for change in the country.During 2018, the Irish Embassy in Tanzania spent over €1,400,000 on programmes that focused on eliminating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.
Learn more about Ireland’s development cooperation programme in Tanzania here: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/tanzania/our-role/development-programme-in-tanzania/
Learn more about Ireland’s new policy for international development here: https://www.irishaid.ie/about-us/policy-for-international-development/