Tanzania Gender
Based Violence
Assessment
Scope, Programming,Gaps and Entry Points
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Tanzania Gender-Based Violence Assessment:
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Report No: AUS0002786
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March 2022
3
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 6
Abbreviations 8
Glossary of Key Terms 10
Executive Summary 12
1. Background to the Gender-Based Violence Assessment 15
1.1 Purpose of the Assessment 15
1.2 Methodology of the Assessment 15
1.2.1 Desk Review 15
1.2.2 Stakeholder Consultations 15
1.2.3 Limitations 16
2. Gender and Development in Tanzania 17
2.1 Development Context 17
2.2 Gender Inequality 17
3. Scope of the Problem of GBV 19
3.1 Existing Data 19
3.1.1 Child Physical and Sexual Violence 20
3.1.2 Female Genital Mutilation 20
3.1.3 Child Marriage 22
3.1.4 Intimate Partner Violence 23
3.1.5 Sexual Violence 25
3.1.6 Additional Harmful Traditional Practices 26
3.1.7. Help-Seeking Behaviors among Survivors of GBV 27
3.2 Groups Particularly at Risk of GBV 27
3.3 GBV and COVID-19 28
4. Legislative and Policy Environment for Addressing GBV 30
4.1 Legislative Environment 30
4.1.1 Key Legislation 30
4.1.2 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Legislation 31
4.2 Policy Environment 32
4.2.1 Key Policies 32
4.2.2 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Policies 34
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
5. GBV Systems and Coordination Mechanisms 37
5.1 United Republic of Tanzania 37
5.1.1 Tanzania National Systems 37
5.1.2 Tanzania Subnational Systems 38
5.2 Zanzibar GBV Systems and Coordination Mechanisms 38
5.3 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Systems and Coordination 40
6. GBV Response and Prevention Programming 41
6.1 Response Programming 41
6.1.1 Health Sector Response 41
6.1.2 Psychosocial Sector Response 42
6.1.3 Legal/Justice Response 43
6.1.4 Security Response 44
6.1.5 Referral Pathways and Information Management 44
6.2 GBV Prevention Programming 45
7. Recommendations 47
7.1 Legislation and Policy 47
7.2 Systems and Coordination 47
7.3 Response and Prevention 47
Appendix 1: Key Informant Interview Guiding Questions 49
Appendix 2: Key Informants Interviewed 50
Appendix 3: National Legislation Relating To GBV 51
Appendix 4: International And National Frameworks Relevant To Tanzania’s
Commitments On GBV 53
Appendix 5: Guiding Principles And Approaches Of The NPAs 54
Appendix 6: Examples Of GBV Prevention Programming In Tanzania 56
Appendix 7: Best Practices In Comparative Context 58
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared by a joint World Bank team of Sustainable Development and Human
Development Global practices. The team was led by M. Yaa Oppong, Sector Leader, SD; Inaam
Ul Haq, Program Leader, HD, (both of the Tanzania CMU) and Gemma Joan Nifasha Todd,
Education Specialist.
Initial research was conducted by Jane Kiragu, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Consultant. Report
writing was led by Jane Kiragu and finalization by Jeanne Ward, GBV Consultant. The following
core team members contributed significantly to the development, review, and finalization of
the GBV assessment and are gratefully acknowledged: Tanya Lynn D’Lima, Social Development
Specialist; Pamela Tuiyott, Senior Social Development Specialist; Elita Chayala, GBV Consultant;
Chiho Suzuki, Sr. Health Specialist; Francisco Obreque, Sr. Agriculture Specialist; Nicholas
Meitaki Soikan, Sr. Social Development Specialist; Callie Phillips, Sr. Social Development
Specialist; Rob Swinkels, Sr. Economist; Toyoko Kodama, Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist;
Laura Campbell, Social Protection Specialist; Clifton John Cortez, Adviser; Nyambiri Nanai
Kimacha, Urban/DRM Consultant; Victoria Stanley, Sr. Land Administration Specialist; Paula
Lorena Gonzalez Martinez, Gender Consultant; Elia Petro Boe, Gender Consultant; Sibani Karki,
Gender Consultant; Aida Mwajua Sykes, Gender and Economic Inclusion Consultant, Toni Joe
Lebbos, Consultant; Hilda Jacob Mwakatumbula, Consultant; Rachel Cassidy, Economist, and
Jacob Omondi Obongo, Senior Social Development Specialist, Safeguard Policies.
Peer reviewers have contributed significantly to the conceptualization and preparation of the
assessment: Verena Phipps, Senior Social Development Specialist; Naoko Ohno, Senior Social
Development Specialist; Peter Lafere, Senior Social Development Specialist; Nazaneen Ali,
Senior Governance Specialist; Sameera Maziad Al Tuwaijri, Lead Health Specialist, HHNDR;
and Markus Goldstein, Lead Economist, AFECE.
Allison Louise Vale edited the report. Judith Elimhoo Matemba, Program Assistant, provided
administrative support and coordination of the entire process. Priscilla Simbisayi Zengeni,
Program Assistant, provided additional administrative support.
The report was prepared in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Community
Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC)1, under the leadership of Dr. John
Jingu, Permanent Secretary – Community Development; Ms. Mwajuma Mwagiza, Director for
Gender Development; and Ms. Grace Mwangwa, Assistant Director for Gender Development.
Stakeholder consultations were conducted and summarized in a supplementary report, and
appreciation goes to the key informants: the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
(Mainland); MoHCDGEC (Zanzibar); Organization of Women with Disabilities in Zanzibar
(Jumuiya ya wanawake wenye Ulemavu Zanzibar (JUWAUZA)); Legal and Human Rights
Council (LHRC); Tanzania Women Lawyer Association (TAWLA); Tanzania Gender Network
Programme (TGNP); University of Dodoma (UDOM); United National Fund for Population
Activities (UNFPA); United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women); Uongozi Institute; and Women in
Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF). Additionally, appreciation goes to stakeholders
who participated in the stakeholder consultation workshops that took place in Dar es
1 In January 2022, the Ministry was separated into two Ministries, one being the Ministry of Health and the second the
Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups.
6
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Salaam and Zanzibar in 2019, including the Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Youth,
Women and Children; Police Gender and Children Desk officers; Children’s Court officers; UN-
representatives, and non-government organizations from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
With special thanks to Markus Goldstein, who provided support beyond peer review as Lead
Economist at the Africa Gender Innovation Lab, along with his team. The work was conducted
with oversight from Helene Carlson Rex, Practice Manager, Social Sustainability and Inclusion.
Mara K. Warwick, Country Director for Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and
Preeti Arora, Operations Manager for the CMU, provided strategic guidance and leadership
throughout the preparation of the report.
7
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Abbreviations
AFNET Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Network of Tanzania
AUC African Union Commission
CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere.
CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
CDF Children’s Dignity Forum
CSO civil society organization
CHRAGG Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance
CIDO Customary Law Declaration Order
CSW Commission on the Status of Women
DRC Democratic Republic of Congo
DCMS District Case Management System
DV domestic violence
EC economic control
FBOs faith-based organizations
FGM female genital mutilation
FYDP five-year development plan
GBV gender-based violence
GII Gender Inequality Index
HTP harmful traditional practices
HBS Household Budget Survey
HDI Human Development Index
HDR Human Development Index Report
IPV intimate partner violence
KII Key Information Interviews
LHRC Legal Human Rights Centre
LMA Law of Marriage Act
MoALF Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries
MoCLA Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs
MoEST Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
MoFP Ministry of Finance and Planning
MOHSW Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
MoHCDGEC Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children
MoHA Ministry of Home Affairs
MoITI Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
MoLEYWC Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Youth, Women and Children
MTAKUWWA Women and Children Protection committees (MTAKUWWA committees)
NGO non-governmental organization
8
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
NPSC National Protection Steering Committee
NPTC National Protection Technical Committee
NC-VAWC National Commiꢂee on Violence Against Women and Children
NPA-VAWC National Plans of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children
NBS National Bureau of Statistics
NELICO New Light for Children Organization
OHCHR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
OSC One Stop Centre
PO-RALG President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government
PCCB Prevention and Control of Corruption Bureau
PMO Prime Minister’s Office
RITA Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency
SDG Sustainable Development Goals
SEA sexual exploitation and abuse
SH Sexual Harassment
SHIVYAWATA Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organizations
SOSPA Sexual Offences Provision Act
TASAF Ministry of Social Action Fund
TPF Tanzanian Police Force
TFF Tackle Africa and Tanzania Football Federation
TACAIDS Tanzania Commission for AIDS
TDHS-MIS Tanzania Demographic Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey
TWG Thematic Working Groups
TAWLA Tanzania Women Lawyers Association
TFNC Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre
UNFPA United Nations Population Fund
UN Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
URT United Republic of Tanzania
VAC violence against children
VAW, violence against women
VAWC violence against women and children
WB World Bank
WiLDAF Women in Law and Development in Africa
WHO World Health Organization
ZAFELA Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association
9
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Glossary of Key Terms
Gender: Refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and
female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as relations
between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities, and relationships
are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. They are context/
time-specific and changeable. Gender determines what is expected, allowed, and valued in a
woman or a man in a given context. In most societies there are differences and inequalities
between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and
control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities. Gender is part of the broader
socio-cultural context.2 The term is also used more broadly to denote a range of identities that
do not correspond to established ideas of male and female.
Gender-Based Violence: Gender-based violence (GBV) is an umbrella term for any harmful act
that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed (i.e., gender)
differences between males and females. It includes acts that inflict physical, sexual, or mental
harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty. These acts
can occur in public or in private. The term ‘GBV’ is most commonly used to underscore how
systemic inequality between males and females—which exists in every society in the world—
acts as a unifying and foundational characteristic of most forms of violence perpetrated against
women and girls. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women
(DEVAW) defines violence against women as “any act of gender-based violence that results in,
or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women.” DEVAW
emphasizes that the violence is “a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between
men and women, which have led to the domination over and discrimination against women
by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women.” Gender discrimination is
not only a cause of many forms of violence against women and girls but also contributes to
the widespread acceptance and invisibility of such violence—so that perpetrators are not held
accountable, and survivors are discouraged from speaking out and accessing support.3
Harmful Traditional Practices: These are cultural, social, and traditional practices that can be
harmful to a person’s mental or physical health. Examples include female genital mutilation/
circumcision, child marriage, traditional birth practices, wife inheritance, fattening scaring,
branding, female infanticide, dowry price, exorcism, or witchcraft.
Intimate Partner Violence: Intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of
violence against women and includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and controlling
behaviors by an intimate partner.
Sexual Abuse: Actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or
under unequal or coercive conditions.4
Sexual Exploitation: Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential
power, or trust for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially,
or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.5
2 UN Women, 2001. https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/pdf/factsheet1.pdf
3 See Inter-Agency Standing Committee Gender-based Violence Guidelines, 2015, pg. 5, and DEVAW, 1993.
4 Ibid.
5 United Nations Secretariat. 2003. ‘Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection for Sexual Exploitation
and Abuse’. ST/SGB/2003/13, <www.pseataskforce.org/uploads/tools/1327932869.pdf>
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Sexual Harassment: Any unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other
verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.6
Sexual Violence: Sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, threats of
harm or physical force, by any person regardless of relationship to the victim, in any unwanted
sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic a person’s sexuality, using coercion.
Violence Against Children: Defined as physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological
harm, neglect, or negligent treatment of children (i.e., people under the age of 18), including
exposure to such harm, that results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival,
development, or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust, or power. This
includes using children for profit, labor, sexual gratification, or some other personal or financial
advantage.
6 US Department of State. n.d. Sexual Harassment Policy, <www.state.gov/s/ocr/c14800.htm>
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Assessment Objectives
The objective of this assessment is to provide background information about gender-based
violence (GBV) issues, policies, programming, and gaps in Tanzania, for the purpose of assisting
the World Bank (WB) to 1) consider how to directly support efforts to address GBV in Tanzania;
2) inform strategies for integrating attention to GBV in development programming; and 3)
understand the extent of GBV response programming.
In addition to providing an overview of data on the scope of GBV in Tanzania, the assessment
investigates: legislative and policy protections related to GBV; systems and coordination
mechanisms in place for addressing GBV in Tanzania; and GBV response and prevention
programming. The assessment analyzes key gaps across these areas of investigation based
on input from key stakeholders as well as the desk review and concludes with several
recommendations for WB to consider in order to assist in addressing these key gaps.
Assessment Methodology
The report is informed by a desk review on GBV prevalence and the legal and policy environment
in Tanzania, as well as by key informant interviews (KIIs) and stakeholder consultations with
government and non-governmental officials involved in GBV prevention and mitigation to
understand their perspectives and priorities. The assessment is meant to be a light review to
provide an overall impression.
Key Findings
Areas of Progress Key Gaps
Investigation
GBV Relatively progressive Need for improvements
Legislation framework anchored on a in specific laws related to
and Policies progressive Constitution domestic violence and marital
and relevant pieces of rape.
legislation.
Limited allocation of
The National Plans of resources in support of the
Action (NPAs) for Tanzania implementation of the NPAs.
and Zanzibar on violence
against women (VAW) and No evidence of monitoring
violence against children frameworks, exacerbated by
(VAC) central to advancing low levels of funding.
national efforts to address
GBV.
12
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
GBV Comprehensive Coordination not sufficiently
Systems and coordination system laid resourced from the national
Coordination out by the NPAs, from level to the local level.
national to local levels.
Relatively archaic paper
The community-based system of data collection on
referrals processes service delivery statistics for
through the Women GBV inhibits understanding
and Children Protection of trends and needs. GBV
committees (MTAKUWWA data does not appear to
committees) have be collected systematically,
improved coordination at harmonized, and properly
the local level. integrated to inform decision-
making.
GBV Response programming There are key gaps across
Response and exists across all key all sectors of response,
Prevention sectors of the multi- particularly in terms of quality
Programming sectoral response (health, of services and ensuring
psychosocial, legal/justice survivor-centered care.
and security (police).
There is limited prosecution
Core guidance documents of GBV cases due to lack of
have improved response evidence, failure to collect
across these key sectors and/or preserve forensic
to deliver a package of evidence, poor investigation, or
essential services. corruption in the system.
There have been a number It is not clear whether
of prevention initiatives prevention interventions have
undertaken in Tanzania, been evaluated for impact and/
particularly by NGOs/ or can be taken to scale.
CSOs.
Recommendations
Legislation and Policy
Further NPA efforts to reform laws that undermine rights of women and girls to be free
from violence and discrimination, particularly by promoting advocacy on specific provisions
for domestic violence and marital rape in the penal code.
Consider facilitating a strategy that supports sustainable funding for the NPAs and their
accelerated implementation, such as through the establishment of a large basket fund
led by government with support from private sector and development partners. Ensure
this strategy builds out commitment and capacity of government to meet its budgetary
responsibilities through the development and implementation of ongoing funding
mobilization strategies.
Support an evaluation of the NPAs as they near completion that can be used as the basis for
development of a successor plan(s).
Building on the Shinyanga example, (the only region in Tanzania that has cascaded the
Tanzania NPA by developing its own regional plan responsive to its context) support efforts
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
to cascade the Tanzania NPA to the regional level as a way to build out regional ownership
and implementation of the NPA.
Support a review of the National Social Protection Policy Implementation Plan; assess
current efforts to increase economic empowerment livelihoods for GBV survivors and
women and girls at risk of violence and devise further interventions focused on economic
stability based on the findings of the assessment.
Systems and Coordination
Strengthen national systems for coordination by facilitating a rapid review of the
implementation of the coordination system for the NPAs and target support to key gaps
at the national level, such as the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender,
Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC), as well the Secretariat of the National Protection
Steering Committee. Include in this the capacity to promote monitoring and reporting on
coordination at all levels of the coordination system.
Invest in improvements to GBV information management systems to ensure standardized
and quality GBV data is collected throughout the country. This could be done through the
roll-out of the District Case Management System (DCMS) in those districts where it is not
yet established.
Response and Prevention
Increase investments in development or capacity strengthening of systems, structures, and
mechanisms for GBV response/service delivery to ensure the availability, accessibility, usability,
responsiveness, and accountability of such services across the entire service delivery chain,
i.e., justice sector, health sector, and social welfare sector.
Change social norms that contribute to the under-reporting of GBV by promoting help-seeking
behaviors and building the capacity of service providers to enable them to ensure survivor-
centered approaches to GBV.
Support the development of a national system to monitor the quality and sustainability
of service provision in One Stop Centre (OSC) health services, including staff capacity
assessments and quality-of-care feedback by survivors receiving care. Invest in staff
training on survivor-centered approaches and expanding access to care for under-served
populations through the MTAKUWWA committees.
Develop a strategy for building out the social welfare workforce and improving capacity of
social workers to provide psychosocial services as part of case management.
Facilitate police training through the Police Academy as well as through targeted training
for Police and Gender Desks on the existing Police Gender and Children Desk guidance.
Consider piloting the Zanzibar Special Family Court model in mainland Tanzania in order to
build trust in court processes and fast-track cases.
Build legal literacy among the population through translation of laws and policies as well as
support to widespread community outreach and sensitization. Link this to support for free
legal aid in areas where this is not currently available to survivors.
Support a review of the NPA’s National Community and Outreach Strategy to ensure that its
approach is aligned with best practices for the prevention of GBV through changing social
norms and consider scaling up elements of the strategy in order to support measurable
behavior change.
14
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
1. Background to the Gender-Based Violence Assessment
1.1 Purpose of the Assessment
This assessment has been commissioned by the WB to provide baseline information on GBV
issues, policies, programming, and gaps with a view towards assisting the WB to a) consider
how to directly support efforts to address GBV in Tanzania; b) inform strategies for integrating
attention to GBV in development programming; and c) understand the extent of GBV response
programming in the United Republic of Tanzania. This will not only allow the WB to focus
their support to GBV programming more strategically (beyond a project-to-project basis) to
maximize investment, but also assist in understanding the nature and extent of GBV services
that can be made available to survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and/or sexual
harassment (SH) in WB-funded infrastructure and development projects.7
More specifically, the assessment investigates:
Existing data on GBV and prevalence of different forms of GBV
The national legal framework and policies that address GBV
The institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms for GBV response
GBV response programming currently available to survivors
GBV prevention interventions.
The assessment analyzes key gaps across these areas of investigation based on inputs from key
stakeholders as well as the desk review and concludes with several recommendations for WB
to consider in order to assist in addressing these key gaps.
1.2 Methodology of the Assessment
A combination of methods was employed in this study, including a desk review and interviews
with key stakeholders.
1.1.1 Desk Review
The desk review comprised an examination of literature on the prevalence and drivers of GBV
in Tanzania as well as laws and policies related to GBV and good practices that can inform
actionable recommendations.
1.1.2 Stakeholder Consultations
The desk review was supplemented with consultations with select GBV experts from national
and regional levels during a 2-day stakeholder consultation in Zanzibar in November 2019 with
representatives from the Zanzibar Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Youth, Women
and Children; Police Gender and Children Desk officers; Children’s Court officers; UN agencies;
7 This assessment does not focus on SEA or SH in WB-funded projects. Nevertheless, recognizing that survivor care and
support is a key responsibility of any SEA/SH action plan, the information in this report can be used as a reference for
projects to understand availability of and gaps in GBV services in Tanzania. This assessment also does not investigate the
extent to which WB development projects are integrating GBV risk mitigation strategies as part of reducing the risk of GBV
occurring at the community level during project implementation. This report will be followed by subsequent research
on WB investments in Tanzania that will provide specific guidance on improving project capacity to address SEA and
SH, including survivor referrals, and will also consider potential strategies for GBV risk mitigation in select development
projects.
15
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
and non-governmental organizations in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Questions were presented to
facilitate input on the GBV landscape, challenges, and opportunities.
In addition, key informant interviews using an interview guide were conducted in Dar es
Salaam with Social Welfare Services, Department of Health, Social Welfare and Nutrition, UN
Agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Additional consultations were held with select
partners to review proposed recommendations. The interview guide is included in appendix 1
and list of key informants in appendix 2.
1.1.3 Limitations
Data on violence against women and girls in Tanzania has increased significantly over the years.
However, data on the nature and extent of GBV programming is not consolidated or easily
accessible. The limited scope of KIIs also impacted the ability to collect information on the full
scope of GBV programming across Tanzania. As such, information presented in this assessment
is not exhaustive, but rather intended to provide a snapshot of some of the key structures that
are in place to facilitate GBV prevention and response in the country, and to highlight some of
the key gaps in these structures.
16
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
2. Gender and Development in Tanzania
2.1 Development Context
Tanzania has experienced over 20 years of sustained economic growth, and in July 2020 was
formally designated as a lower-middle income country rather than a low-income country.
The Tanzania Development Vision 2025 aims to achieve a middle-income status by 2025 and
outlines key steps towards increasing human development and physical capital, including an
emphasis on gender equality in all social, economic, and political contexts.8
From 2007 to 2018, Tanzania successfully decreased poverty rates by 8 percentage points
from 34.4 percent in 2007 to 26.4 percent in 2018.9 This reduction has slowed, however, in
recent years, with the average annual decline in poverty rates decreasing from 1 percent to
just 0.3 percent.10 While Tanzania’s female labor force participation rate is one of the highest
on the continent, women appear to have benefited less from structural transformations in the
economy so far, with a slower transition out of agriculture and into other types of employment
relative to men.11
2.2 Gender Inequality
The total fertility rate in Tanzania is high at 4.8 births per woman and is partially driven
by high adolescent fertility and early marriage. High fertility, adolescent fertility, and early
marriage are correlated with decreased economic activity, lower levels of education, poverty,
and decreased agency. High fertility, especially adolescent fertility, is also associated with
poorer health outcomes for women as well as for their children. On a larger scale, high fertility
prevents the country from capitalizing on a demographic dividend, a pre-requisite of which is
a rapid decline in fertility.
While the country has moved towards gender parity in participation for girls and boys in
lower levels of education, on the mainland there are still significant gender gaps at the
upper secondary level where school fees are still in place. Lower educational attainment
among females is correlated with earlier pregnancy, increased fertility, decreased economic
opportunities and decreased lifetime earnings. While Tanzania has achieved close to gender
parity in pre-primary, primary, and low secondary education, the transition to upper secondary
education is accompanied by a significant drop off in female enrollment corresponding to the
advent of puberty and accompanied risks of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and additional
household responsibilities.12
8 “Tanzania Country Overview,” Text/Html, World Bank, Accessed September 16, 2021, https://www.Worldbank.Org/En/
Country/Tanzania/Overview.
9 “Tanzania’s Path to Poverty Reduction and Pro-Poor Growth.” World Bank, Accessed December 11, 2021. https://www.
worldbank.org/en/country/tanzania/publication/tanzanias-path-to-poverty-reduction-and-pro-poor-growth.
10 Ibid.
11 Ardina Hasanbasri†, Talip Kilic‡, Gayatri Koolwal# And Heather Moylan. 2021. LSMS+ Program in Sub-Saharan
Africa: Findings On Individual-Level Data Collection On Labor, And Asset Ownership And Rights. World Bank. https://
openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/35544/LSMS-Program-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa-Findings-from-
Individual-Level-Data-Collection-on-Labor-and-Asset-Ownership.pdf?sequence=5
12 The United Republic of Tanzania, Basic Education Statistical Abstract, 2004-2017; The United Republic of Tanzania,
Education Sector Performance Report, 2018/2019.
17
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Revenues from women entrepreneurs are 46 percent less than those of male entrepreneurs.
This disparity is the result of multiple compounding factors, including women’s lower spending
on wages for workers in their businesses, lower returns to the wealth index, and lower rates of
registration. In addition to this, men are more likely to use their own savings from their non-
agricultural businesses as startup capital while women tend to rely on gifts from family and
friends, which may restrict women’s ability to achieve faster and sustainable business growth
in the long-term.
Women farmers achieve lower agricultural yields than their male counterparts by an
estimated 20 to 30 percent. Analysis using Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) data
suggests that reasons for this persistent gender gap center on women’s lower access to male
farm labor and lower returns from both labor and non-labor inputs, such as pesticides and
organic fertilizer.13 In a predominately agricultural economy in which agriculture accounts for
65 percent of the overall labor force, these differences reflect and reinforce significant gender
disparities.14
Overall, women have significantly less decision-making power than men in Tanzania. Within
the household, women are less likely than their husbands to be involved in decision-making
about their healthcare, major household purchases, and visits to their family or relatives. Of
currently married women who earn cash for their work, over half of women jointly decide
how to spend their earnings with their husbands, over a third make decisions independently,
and almost a tenth of women report their husbands as the primary decision-maker in how to
use the woman’s earnings. Women are more likely to participate in these decisions as they
age if they live in urban areas, are employed for cash, have higher levels of education, or are
members of wealthier households.15
13 Slavchevska, V. (2015). Gender Differences in Agricultural Productivity: The Case Of Tanzania. Agricultural Economics,
46(3), 335-355.
14 “Employment In Agriculture, Female (Percentage of female employment) (Modelled ILO estimate) - Tanzania | Data,”
Accessed August 31, 2021, Https://Data.Worldbank.Org/Indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.FE.ZS?Locations=TZ.
15 Tanzania DHS 2015/2016.
18
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
3. Scope of the Problem of GBV
Key Statistics
Nationally, 40 percent of all women aged 15-49 years have experienced physical
violence, while 17 percent have experienced sexual violence.
Of women aged 15-49, 44 percent have experienced either physical or sexual violence
by an intimate partner.
Spousal violence16 prevalence is highest in rural areas, averaging 52 percent while the
prevalence in urban areas averages 45 percent.
Almost 30 percent of girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18.
The average prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) among girls and women
aged 15-49 is 10 percent.
58 percent of women and 40 percent of men believe that a husband is justified in
beating his wife under certain circumstances.
Among never-married women, 16 percent have experienced physical violence and 9
percent experienced sexual violence.
Only 54 percent of women in Tanzania who experienced physical or sexual violence
seek help.
Source: TDHS-MIS 2015-2016
The term ‘GBV’ is most commonly used to underscore how systemic inequality between males
and females—which exists in every society in the world—acts as a unifying and foundational
characteristic of most forms of violence perpetrated against women and girls. While gender
inequality is always at the root of GBV, there exists other contributing factors which may
exacerbate this risk in Tanzania, including high rates of early marriage and childbirth, low levels
of economic independence and lower earnings among women, low levels of education among
women, significant age gaps between husbands and wives, and polygamy. These factors,
in combination with other differences in urbanicity, agriculture, economic conditions, and
traditional practices, contribute to many of the regional variations in the prevalence of GBV
described below.
3.1 Existing Data
Women and girls in Tanzania experience violence throughout the life cycle from childhood
to old age. The following section is organized to reflect this, drawing on a range of sources,
including the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (DHS 2015-2016), the National Survey
on Violence Against Children in Tanzania and Zanzibar (2011), and other research in order to
accurately describe the scope and prevalence of GBV across life stages.
16 Spousal violence encompasses physical, sexual or emotional violence.
19
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
3.1.1 Child Physical and Sexual Violence
The 2009 National Survey on Violence Against Children in Tanzania and Zanzibar (VAC
survey released in 2011) estimates that 75 percent of children experienced physical
violence by a relative before attaining the age of 18 years.17 Almost three-quarters of
females reported experiencing physical violence by a relative, authority figure (such as
teachers), or an intimate partner before the age of 18, and more than one-half of females
aged 13 to 17 years reported that they had experienced physical violence in the past year.18
The vast majority of this abuse took the form of being punched, whipped, or kicked.
The high rate of physical violence against children reflects the widespread use of corporal
punishment which is allowed in schools and practiced in the home nationwide. In August
2019, the government of mainland Tanzania took the important step of banning teachers in
the lower grades of primary school from entering classrooms with canes. However, the use of
harsh corporal punishment, including caning, hitting, punching, and forcing students to remain
in degrading and uncomfortable positions in the classroom, remains common, and Human
Right Watch reports that this physical violence has also been documented to lead to later
sexual violence against girls in secondary school.19
According to the same VAC Survey, almost 3 out of 10 Tanzanian females reported at least
one experience of sexual violence before the age of 18. The most common form of sexual
violence experienced by girls was sexual touching, followed by attempted sexual intercourse.
Six percent of females reporting to have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse
before the age of 18. When asked about experiences in the year preceding the survey, 14
percent of females aged 13 to 17 years reported that they had experienced at least one form
of sexual violence. The three most common perpetrators were strangers (32.5 percent),
neighbours (24.8 percent), and dating partners (24.6 percent), with the majority (70 percent)
older than the victim.20
Of those who had their first sexual experience before age 18, nearly one-third (29.1 percent) of
females reported that their first sexual intercourse was forced or coerced. Eighty-one percent
reported receiving money or goods for sex compared to 24.6 percent of who did not.21
3.1.2 Female Genital Mutilation
According to the TDHS-MIS 2015-2016, the average prevalence of female genital mutilation
(FGM) among girls and women aged 15-49 in Tanzania has declined from 18 percent in 1996
and 15 percent in 2013 to 10 percent in 2016. The prevalence of FGM appeared to be very low
(at only 1 percent) for girls 14 years and younger. However, this is likely an underestimate of the
17 Violence against Children in Tanzania: Findings from a National Survey, 2009. Summary Report on the Prevalence of
Sexual, Physical and Emotional Violence, Context of Sexual Violence, and Health and Behavioural Consequences of
Violence Experienced in Childhood. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: UNICEF Tanzania, Division of Violence Prevention, National
Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Muhimbili University of Health
and Allied Sciences, 2011 112009, National Survey on Violence Against Children, page 27.
18 Ibid, 98.
19 Martínez, Elin. (2019) “Tanzania: Ending Violence in Schools Begins with Banning Canes in All Classrooms.” Human
Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/09/03/tanzania-ending-violence-schools-begins-banning-canes-all-
classrooms.
20 Ibid, 43.
21 2009, National Survey on VAC, page 76.
20
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
true prevalence of the practice as respondents may have been afraid to admit to participating
in the practice—and because FGM in most regions is done to girls of 13 years and above.22
The national prevalence of FGM in Tanzania also elides significant regional variations. As
shown in the figure below, the most recent estimates of the prevalence of FGM range from 58
percent in Manyara to less than 1 percent in much of western Tanzania.23
In the regions with the highest prevalence of FGM, the practice is fueled by
harmful traditional practices, beliefs, and customs. It is believed that FGM is
necessary because girls who do not undergo FGM are unclean and unworthy and
that ancestors will punish those who abandon the traditional practice of FGM.24
FGM is seen as a necessary rite of passage to initiate girls into maturity, to prevent pre-
marital sexual intercourse, and to obtain a higher bride-price when daughters are betrothed.25
Figure 1: Prevalence of FGM in 2015-2016 by region
22 TDHS-MIS 2015-2016 Page 360
23 These patterns of regional variation have been seen across studies, including Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A
statistical overview and exploration of the dynamics of change. UNICEF, July 2013, page 31. Accessed on 30th May 2020.
https://www.unicef.org/publications/index_69875.html
24 Ibid.
25 Ibid.
21
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Girls are socialized to want to undergo FGM to be accepted by their families and communi-
ties with some claiming that FGM helps girls avoid contracting HIV/AIDS, prevent urinary tract
diseases and ensure they do not suffer from infertility or give birth to disabled children once
they are married.26 The societal acceptance of FGM practices ensures that those who do not
undergo FGM remain unmarried and or are forced to undergo FGM as adults if they choose to
marry.27
In 2018, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) concluded that “Overall the observed
reductions in FGM are not sufficient to offset the expected population growth, as one in ten
women in Tanzania (aged 15-49) has undergone FGM; of these, 35 per cent underwent FGM
before the age of one.”28
3.1.3 Child Marriage
Data from the 2015-2016 TDHS- Table 1: Five Highest Regions of Child Mar-
MIS suggest that more than 1 in
3 girls in Tanzania are married be-
riage (2017)
fore their 18th birthday. This rep- Region Percentage of female
resents a slight decline, from 40
percent in 2010 to 36 percent in respondents reporting
2015-16. In a 2017 study on the that they were married
drivers and consequences of child before the age of 18
marriage in Tanzania, the Minis-
try of Heath, Community Develop-
Tabora 76%
ment, Gender, Elderly and Children
(MoHCDGEC) confirmed that the Shinyanga 64%
prevalence of child marriage re- Mara 55%
mains high in many regions of the Dodoma 45%
country. Table 1 shows the per-
Manyara 44%
centage of female respondents
who report that they were mar-
ried before the age of 18 in the five
highest-prevalence regions of Tanzania.29 The rate of child marriage is particularly high
among some ethnic groups such as the Maasai and Gogo in which early marriage is close-
ly linked to FGM.30 Women and men in urban areas marry later than their counterparts in
rural areas, and women with at least a secondary level of education marry much later than
women with no education with a median age of 23.6 years and 17.8 years, respectively.31
26 Ibid.
27 Ibid, 8.
28 United Nations, Tanzania, UNFPA, Tanzania and the European Union. FGM Fact Sheet P. 2. Accessed 30th May 2020.
https://tanzania.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/FGM_FACTSHEET_24sept_highres.pdf
29 National Survey on the Drivers and Consequences of Child Marriage in Tanzania, February 2017, p. 39.
30 “No Way Out: Child Marriage And Human Rights Abuses In Tanzania” (Human Rights Watch, October 29, 2014), Https://
Www.Hrw.Org/Report/2014/10/29/No-Way-Out/Child-Marriage-And-Human-Rights-Abuses-Tanzania.
31 TDHS-MIS (2015-2016)
22
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
3.1.4 Intimate Partner Violence
The reported rate of violence among married women in Tanzania ranges from 78 percent
in the Mara and Shinyanga regions to only 8 percent in Kaskazini Pemba and 9 percent in
Kusini Pemba. Overall, 44 percent of women aged 15-49 have experienced either physical
or sexual violence by an intimate partner. This is significantly higher than both the global
estimate of the prevalence of lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) among women
15-49 of 27 percent, and the regional average for Sub-Saharan Africa of 33 percent.32
While the methodologies and timeframes of different survey instruments investigating IPV
vary and comparisons in prevalence should therefore be done cautiously, estimates from WHO
studies suggest that IPV is more common in Tanzania than in many other countries where
WHO has undertaken the same research. In fact, comparing the WHO data to other countries,
Tanzania ranks in the top 12 highest-prevalence countries in the African region.33
Physical violence and sexual violence may not occur in isolation; rather women may experience
a combination of different forms of violence at the hands of intimate partners. According to
the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA), legal aid services indicate that IPV is on
the rise, but not reported
Figure 2: Prevalence of IPV Against Ever-married Women by Region (2015-2016)
32 WHO. Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018. Global, regional, and national prevalence estimates for
intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence
against women. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240022256, pgs. 22, 24.
33 WHO Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research. Accessed December 11, 2021. https://srhr.org/vaw-data/
data?region=Africa®ion_class=WHO&violence_type=ipv&violence_time=lifetime&age_group=15_49
23
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
The most recent DHS indicates the prevalence of physical violence amongst women after
the age of 15 stands at 40 percent, among women aged 15-49.34 The percentage of women
who have experienced physical violence since age 15 has not changed in Tanzania Mainland
since the 2010 TDHS-MIS, but it has increased from 10 percent to 14 percent in Zanzibar.35
Seven in 10 women who experienced spousal violence suffered varying types of injuries
namely; cuts, bruises or aches; 15 percent reported deep wounds, broken bones or teeth and
other serious injuries.
Married women experience violence more than those who are not married.36 In terms of
trends, 16 percent of women who have never married have experienced physical violence
since the age of 15, compared with 63 percent of divorced, separated, or widowed women
and 44 percent of currently married women.37 Overall, 8 percent of pregnant women have
experienced physical violence during pregnancy.38
A 2017 study on GBV conducted in Mwanza found that 61 percent of women respondents
experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their unions.39 Sixty-eight percent of women
reported that they had experienced physical violence in their lifetime, and 82 percent of
women experienced controlling behavior by a partner in their lifetime.40 The study added
that “a substantial proportion of women reported severe physical violence which happened
frequently, suggesting that this is a common experience among women in this population.”41
The acceptance of the use of violence by husbands/partners is high in Tanzania, including
among women. According to TDHS-MIS 2015-2016, 58 percent of women and 40 percent of
men believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife under certain circumstances, i.e., if
the wife burns the food, argues with him, goes out without telling him, neglects the children
or denies him sex. Two out of 5 women believe that it is acceptable for a husband to beat his
wife if she neglects the children or argues with him; 3 in 10 women believe it is acceptable to
beat a wife who goes out without first telling the husband; 3 in 10 men think it is acceptable
for a husband to beat his wife if she doesn’t take care of the children or if the wife argues
with him.42 Tolerance of wife-beating appears to have remained comparatively stable since
2004-05. The percentage of women who agree that wife-beating is justified decreased from
60 percent in 2004-05 TDHS-MIS to 54 percent in 2010 TDHS-MIS but then increased to 58
percent in 2015- 16 TDHS-MIS.
In Zanzibar, nearly 60 percent of females and over 50 percent of males support wife-beating
under any of the circumstances presented above.43 Even in younger generations, 4 out of
10 females (40.8 percent) and nearly 1 out of 2 males (46.0 percent) aged 13 to 24 believed
that it was appropriate for a husband to beat his wife. Sixty-two percent of women who
34 Ibid, 368.
35 Ibid, 368.
36 UN Global Database on Violence Against Women
37 TDHS MIS 2015-2016, page 369.
38 Ibid, 369.
39 Ibid, 4.
40 Ibid,.
41 Ibid, 7.
42 United Republic of Tanzania 2011, Violence Against Children in Tanzania: Findings from National Survey 2009, United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Muhimbili University of Health
and Allied Sciences.
43 Ibid, 83.
24
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
experienced physical violence as children by a relative expressed support of wife-beating as
compared to 53.0 percent who had not experienced physical violence as children perpetrated
by a relative. For men, 56.4 percent who experienced childhood physical violence by a relative
believed physical violence was acceptable compared to 49.3 percent who had not experienced
childhood physical violence.44
3.1.5 Sexual Violence
According to the Tanzania DHS 2015-2016, 17 percent of all women 15-49 have experienced
sexual violence. Seven percent of women aged 18 or older experienced sexual violence before
age 18, and two percent of all women aged 15-49 experienced sexual violence before age 15.45
Figure 3: Prevalence of Sexual Violence by Marital Status (TDHS-MIS 2015-2016,46)
The prevalence of sexual violence varies according to region and subgroup. The proportion
of women who have experienced sexual violence is highest in the Western (22 percent) and
Lake (21) Zones and lowest in Zanzibar (9 percent) and the Northern Zone (11 percent). The
rate of sexual violence is especially high among female sex workers, of whom 51.7 percent
reported sexual and physical abuse, including rape.47
The perpetrators of sexual violence are often persons with whom the woman has a close
personal relationship. Forty-eight percent of cases of sexual violence occurred at the hands
of a current or most recent husband/partner while in 40 percent of reported cases the
perpetrator was a former husband/partner. Forty-two percent of women who have never
been married reported perpetrators of sexual violence to be current or former boyfriends.
Thirty-one percent reported friends/acquaintances as perpetrators, while 7 percent reported
strangers as perpetrators.
A study by the TAWLA in December 2018 revealed that acts of sexual violence among married
women were on the rise with women reporting their spouses forcing them to engage in anal
intercourse. Reports of marital rape were recorded mainly in Singida, Tabora, Iringa, Arusha,
and Kilimanjaro, but women are also afraid of reporting because they are ashamed or afraid of
retaliation by their husbands.48
44 Ibid, 84.
45 TDHS-MIS 2015-116, page 369.
46 p. 369
47 Gender Based Violence and Violence Against Children: A Manual for Health Care Providers and Social Welfare Officers,
July 2017, page 21.
48 Ibid, 162.
25
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
3.1.6 Additional Harmful Traditional Practices
Many traditional festivities and initiation rituals are linked to sexual violence against women
and girls in Tanzania. During vigodoro ceremonies, for example, young girls are required to
partially undress and allow men to touch them while performing traditional dances. Rape
is also common during these celebrations.49 In the Shinyanga region, during the bukwilima
harvest festival, girls are forced to choose among eligible men to have sex with through a
ceremony known as chagulaga and may be subjected to physical and sexual violence if they
refuse. Another common harmful traditional practice is samba in which girls are taken to a
witchdoctor to prepare them for marriage using traditional medicines. After this ceremony,
the girl must accept any marriage proposal offered to her, or else risk bringing shame and bad
luck to her family.50
While many initiation ceremonies originated as a way to prepare girls for FGM and/or
marriage, these constitute distinct harmful practices and often continue to be prevalent
even in communities with relatively low rates of FGM and child marriage.51 One example
of an initiation ritual practiced in different variations throughout Tanzania is unyago, which
typically involves keeping girls indoors for multiple weeks while they are subjected to force
feeding them so they will gain weight (as larger girls are considered sexually more attractive
than slim girls), and teaching them “how to handle men sexually.” The community then holds
a large celebration in which the girls are allowed outside for the first time and presented to
potential suitors. Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Lindi, and Mtwara are especially well-known for these
unyago celebrations.52
Once married, women may be subjected to widow inheritance or cleansing upon the death
of their husband. Widow inheritance requires that a woman marry her late husband’s brother
in order to remain with her children. Alternatively, she may be required to undergo widow
cleansing in which she has sex with a relative of their deceased husband or hired man to cleanse
herself of his spirit.53 These practices are most common in the Mbeya and Mara regions.
A married woman may also take a younger girl to be her “ghost” husband. The girl will
observe all of the rituals associated with marriage and live with the older woman as husband
and wife. However, there is no sexual relationship between the two women, and the young girl
is often forced to have sex with her male husband and bear children for the couple.54
49 UNICEF Tanzania (2017). “A Study of the Drivers of Violence Against Children and Positive Change in Tanzania and
Zanzibar,” p. 66-67. https://www.unicef.org/tanzania/media/2341/file/Drivers%20of%20Violence.pdf
50 Ibid.
51 National Survey on the Drivers and Consequences of Child Marriage in Tanzania, February 2017, p. 51.
52 Ibid, 52.
53 Tanzania Women Judges Association. (2011). “Stopping, Shaming, and Naming the Abuse of Power for Sexual Exploitation,”
p. 29. https://studyres.com/doc/17729874/tanzania-women-judges-association-s-country-report
54 Norah Hashim Msuya. (2017). “Harmful Cultural and Traditional Practices: A Roadblock in the Implementation of the
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights in
Tanzania.” PhD Thesis, pp.148-9. https://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/14989/Msuya_
Norah_H_2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
26
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
3.1.7. Help-Seeking Behaviors among Survivors of GBV
GBV is often underreported. According to the TDHS-MIS 2015-2016, only 54 percent of
women who experienced physical or sexual violence sought help. Of those who do seek help,
most women turn to a family member, with only 9 percent seeking help from the police.55
The 2009 VAC study similarly found that almost half of females who experienced sexual
violence in childhood did not report their experiences to anyone. About 1 out of every 5
girls sought services for their experiences of sexual violence, with about 1 out of 8 females
receiving those services for their experiences of sexual violence before the age of 18.56
Patterns of help-seeking for sexual violence in Zanzibar were similar to those of Tanzania as a
whole.57
Survivors who report their experiences risk “scorn” as communities consider sexual violence
and IPV private issues.58 Interviews with organizations working on gender equality and rights
confirmed that survivors’ first point of seeking help was most often the family. In instances of
intimate partner violence, “this would entail family meetings between the parents of couple
and other elders who would mediate and provide the first line of solution.” 59
Nevertheless, the number of women who experienced both physical and sexual
violence who sought help increased by almost 20 percent from the 2010 to 2015-
2016 DHS. Sixty-four percent of women who experienced both physical and sexual
violence reported seeking help compared to 53 percent of those who experienced
physical violence only and 29 percent of those who experienced sexual violence only60.
By region, help-seeking for physical or sexual violence is most common in Iringa (72 percent)
and Morogoro (70 percent). Help-seeking is also higher among formerly or currently married
women, women with more children, and women who are employed for cash.61
3.2 Groups Particularly at Risk of GBV
Regardless of age or socio-economic status, women and girls in Tanzania may suffer from GBV
throughout the life cycle, but some groups are disproportionately at risk due to intersectional
issues including poverty, illiteracy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability, among
other factors. There is limited data on these specific groups in Tanzania. However, the following
section highlights some of the unique challenges and forms of GBV facing these groups.
An emergent aggressive form of violence targeting elderly women and widows has been
witnessed and on the rise. Since 2016, a group of rapists in Kigoma popularly known as TELEZA
break into houses and brutally and repeatedly rape elderly women and widows, and many of
the survivors fail to report.62 Fact-finding missions by non-governmental organizations (LHRC
and Twaweza) revealed frightening circumstances such as the rape of a woman who returned
home at midnight from fetching water, repeated rape of a 60-year-old woman after being hit
with a rod, and rape of an eight-month pregnant woman.63
55 TDHS-MIS 2015-2016, page 367.
56 Violence Against Children in Tanzania: Findings from National Survey 2009, page 27.
57 United Republic of Tanzania 2011, Violence Against Children in Tanzania: Findings from National Survey 2009, page 10.
58 Key informant interview.
59 Key Informant, LHRC.
60 TDHS-MIS 2015-16, p. 398.
61 Ibid.
62 Diana Rubanguka, “Kundi la wabakaji laibuka Kigoma” 25th May 2016 and Fadhili Abdallah “
Teleza azidi kuchafua hali ya hewa Kigoma.”
63 Legal and Human Rights Centre and Zanzibar Legal Services Centre, Tanzania Human Rights Report:
Sexual Violence: A Threat to Child Rights and Welfare in Tanzania, page 162. 27
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Adolescent girls and young women may be at particular risk for sexual harassment and
assault. Evidence from a study on SH and GBV on public transportation found that women
between the ages of 18 and 25 were 22 percent more likely to experience harassment or
violence than older women.64 As noted above, adolescent girls are also at risk for specific
harmful traditional practices such as bukwilima or samba.
Disabled women and girls are likely to experience higher rates of GBV as result of social
stigmatization and increased vulnerability. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights notes that disability is highly stigmatized in Tanzania, making it especially difficult to
collect accurate data on the prevalence of GBV among this population.65
Additional data is needed to better understand the prevalence of GBV among other at-risk
populations in Tanzania, including lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women, sex workers,
divorced, and widowed women.
3.3 GBV and COVID-19
The government of Tanzania has taken a markedly different approach to the COVID-19
pandemic than other neighboring countries. The data on the impact of this approach—and
the impact of COVID-19 more broadly—on the prevalence of GBV are very limited. The first
case of COVID-19 in Tanzania was reported on March 16, 2020. However, in May 2020, the
government stopped reporting data on COVID-19 cases, and former President John Magufuli
declared Tanzania to be “COVID free” in June 2020. After President Magufuli’s death in March
2021, the country’s approach to COVID-19 changed, and the new government led by Vice
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has since publicly acknowledged the existence of the virus in
Tanzania and implemented a new response plan. 66
A rapid gender analysis undertaken by CARE in April 2020 found that a majority of female
respondents in East, Central, and Southern Africa reported increased GBV and harassment
and decreased access to resources and decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic.67
These findings are supported by global evidence on the effects of the pandemic on rates of GBV
and by anecdotal accounts from members of women-led organizations in Tanzania, including
Stella Nziku, a leader of the Mufindi Women’s Network. Speaking to UN Women, Nziku stated,
64 World Bank Group: “Understanding and Addressing Gender-Based Violence in Public Transport for Highly
Vulnerable Groups in Dar es Salaam.” https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/179331603898899363-0050022020/
original/15653WBDIMEPolicyBriefTRATanzaniaGBV.pdf.
65 OHCHR. “Disability and Gender-Based Violence – Tanzania.” https://www.ohchr.org/documents/issues/women/wrgs/
girlsanddisability/governments/tanzania.doc.
66 CARE International. Tanzania COVID-19 Response Report for Bloomberg Philanthropies, p. 3. https://reliefweb.int/sites/
reliefweb.int/files/resources/Tanzania-COVID-19-Bloomberg-Report-Final.pdf.
67 Mahuku, E, Yihun, K.L., Deering, K, & Molosani, B. (2020). CARE Rapid Gender Analysis for COVID 19 East, Central and
Southern Africa. CARE International: https://careevaluations.org/wp-content/uploads/ECSA-RGA-_-FINAL-30042020.
pdf.
28
Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
“I knew that that the cost of gender-blind interventions that excluded women would
be very high…. After the death of my husband, I became a victim of psychological and
economic violence when some relatives grabbed all our properties. Because of my tough
experience, I did not want to see women and girls going through similar psychological
pain, as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”68
School closures in Tanzania have put adolescent girls at heightened risk for GBV,
including child marriage and sexual violence. The Irish Embassy in Tanzania reported
increased rates of teenage pregnancy during the pandemic and expressed concerns about
government policies which limit educational access for pregnant girls and young mothers.69
Due to this and other advocacy, in November 2021, the government of Tanzania announced
a new effort to expand educational access for these groups, representing an important step
forward in improving educational access for girls and responding to the effects of COVID-1970.
68 UN Women. (2020). “Women Take the Lead to Fight GBV during COVID-19 in Tanzania.” https://africa.unwomen.org/en/
news-and-events/stories/2020/09/women-take-a-lead-to-fight-gbv-during-covid19-in-tanzania.
69 Embassy of Ireland, Tanzania. (2020). “Responding to COVID-19 and Gender Inequalities through Community Radio.”
https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/tanzania/news-and-events/latestnews/responding-to-covid-19-and-gender-
inequalities-through-community-radio.html.
70 “World Bank Statement on the Announcement by Government of Tanzania on Equal Access to Education for Pregnant
Girls and Young Mothers.” (2021) https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/statement/2021/11/24/world-bank-statement-
on-the-announcement-by-government-of-tanzania-on-equal-access-to-education-for-pregnant-girls-and-y.
29
Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
4. Legislative and Policy Environment for Addressing GBV
The national response to GBV in Tanzania is anchored in key legal, policy and development
frameworks which illustrate improved commitments to the rights and protections of women
and girls in the last 20 years.
4.1 Legislative Environment
4.1.1 Key Legislation
The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania (1977) and the Revolutionary Government
of Zanzibar Constitution (1994) explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender and provide
for gender equality.71 The Bill of Rights and Duties is provided for in the Constitution and
emphasizes individual freedom, equality, and justice. Article 12 (1) guarantees equality of all
persons, providing that “all human beings are born free and are all equal.” The Constitution
asserts the principles of non-discrimination and equality through Article 13 which provides
in subsection 1 that “all persons are equal before the law and are entitled, without any
discrimination, to protection and equality before the law.” Article 29 (1) echoes the right to
equal protection under the law, providing that “Every person in The United Republic has the
right to enjoy fundamental human rights and to enjoy the benefits accruing from the fulfilment
by every person of this duty to society.”
The legal and policy infrastructure that responds to GBV is found in a number of specific laws
including Law of the Child, Law of Marriage, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Criminal Procedure
Act, Employment and Labour Relations Act, Education Act, Customary Laws Declaration Order
of 1963, HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, Land Act, Indian Succession Act, Probate
and Administration of Estates Act, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, and Village Land Act.
These are summarized in appendix 3.72
The Penal Code (revised 2002) has criminalized various GBV offences through the 1998
Miscellaneous Amendments, also known as the Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (SOSPA).
SOSPA increased the criminal penalties for sexual violence and made illegal the crimes of
tracking in persons, sexual harassment, and FGM. The Criminal Procedure Act 7/2018 section
151 (1) prevents anyone accused of sexual offenses from qualifying for bail and has increased
maximum sentences. As a result, regional courts can now give sentences of between 7 and 14
years, with sentences from the High Court ranging between 30 years and life imprisonment.
The amendment of the Legal Aid Act, 2017 has provided a framework for the implementation
of reforms to guarantee access to justice for all, including poor and vulnerable women and
girls. This law is designed to coordinate the provision of legal aid services to indigent persons
and has established a registry of legal aid providers, including paralegals, who provide free
legal assistance across the country.
The Law of Marriage Act (LMA), 1971 prohibits spousal beating in Section 66 which states
that, “For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that, notwithstanding any custom to the
contrary, no person has any right to inflict corporal punishment on his or her spouse.” However,
71 Articles 12 to 24, Constitution of United Republic of Tanzania.
72 Tanzania is also signatory to various international and regional agreements that further its commitments to addressing
GBV, summarized in appendix 4.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
the LMA allows polygamy under customary, Islamic, and civil marriage rites.73 According
to this law, there are two kinds of marriages: monogamous and polygamous marriages. The
Islamic and customary marriages are presumed to be polygamous or potentially polygamous,
while the Christian marriages are presumed to be monogamous.
As of 2019, the minimum age of legal marriage is 18 for boys and girls, when the Court of
Appeal upheld a High Court ruling which increased the minimum age of marriage for girls
and boys from 14 years and 15 years respectively.74 Amendments to the Education Act 2016
also prohibit child marriage by clearly stipulating in Section 60 (1) that it is unlawful under
any circumstance for a) any person to marry a primary or secondary school girl or boy or b) a
primary or secondary school boy to marry any person.
4.1.2 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Legislation
The United Republic of Tanzania benefits from a largely enabling legal environment that can
facilitate an end to violence against women and children. Even so, the assessment noted
several critical gaps in protective legislation related to GBV, including:
The failure of the constitutional definition of discrimination to include explicit prohibition of
both direct and indirect discrimination against women in the public and private spheres;75
The continued existence of discriminatory laws such as the Customary Law of Inheritance
(The Local Customary Law Order of 1963);
The presence of various forms of discriminatory and criminal sanctions faced by women in
prostitution; and
The lack of prohibitions against marital rape and domestic violence under Tanzania or
Zanzibar criminal or civil legislation.
Absence within the Kadhi’s Court Act 1985 to provide for maintenance of the divorce during
the period of “eddat” or for the division of matrimonial assets.
Furthermore, enforcement of laws continues to be a challenge due to, among other factors,
weak investigations, insufficient evidence, social norms against reporting, delays within the
court system, lack of training for law enforcement officers, inaccessible court costs, and
corruption among police and the judiciary, as will be discussed further under the review of
programming below.
73 The legal framework of Tanzania is pluralistic. This means that there are several systems of law operating in the same
jurisdiction. Consequently, there is customary law which is codified in the Customary Law Declaration Order (CIDO) 1963,
Islamic law, and statutory laws.
74 Until recently, the LMA permitted child marriage for girls as young as 14 or older with parental consent. In 2019, a public
interest case filed in 2016 with the Tanzania High Court challenged the constitutionality of the child marriage in Tanzania
and demanded the government give girls equal protection under the law. The High Court ruled that marriage under the
age of 18 years was illegal and directed the government to raise the minimum age to 18 for both boys and girls within one
year. The Attorney General of the State appealed against the ruling. The appeal was based on the claim that the disparity
in the minimum age was a compromise to accommodate customary, traditional, and religious values on marriage.
75 As observed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at its Sixty Third session,
Paragraph 8, CEDAW Committee concluding observations on the combined seventh and eighth periodic reports of the
United Republic of Tanzania.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
4.2 Policy Environment
4.2.1 Key Policies
National commitments to addressing GBV
are captured in the National Plan of Action “Changing gender norms related
to End Violence Against Women and to male entitlement over girls and
Children in Tanzania 2017/18 – 2021/22 and women’s bodies and control over their
the National Plan of Action to End Violence behavior is a critical strategy to achieve
Against Women and Children in Zanzibar gender equality, reduce violence,
2017-2022. They provide the overall policy
framework for preventing and responding
shape prevention and address specific
to GBV (and VAC) in Tanzania. care and support needs.”
These NPAs have been developed and aligned - Theory of Change, Zanzibar NPA
to government policies and initiatives related 2017-2022
to gender equality and the promotion and
protection of women’s rights. This range
of policies and national guidelines enable
more strategic implementation of the NPAs.
They include amongst others:
The Zanzibar Gender Policy (2016) and its Implementation Plan
The Education and Training Policy (2014) which provides for equal access and opportunities
to education and training for boys and girls
2006 Zanzibar Education Policy which emphasizes access and equity
The Social Protection Policy for Tanzania Mainland;
The National Health Policy (2017)
Small and Medium Enterprises Policy (2006)
Women and Gender Develop Policy (2000) for Tanzania Mainland and its Implementation
Strategy (2005); and
National Energy Policy for Tanzania Mainland (2015)
Zanzibar Social Protection Policy (2014)
The Zanzibar Cooperative Development Policy (2014)
Education and Training Policy (2014)
National Strategy on Inclusive Education (2009-2017)
National Gender-based Violence Committee (Zanzibar) and Roadmap on Violence against
Children and Gender-based Violence (2014-2016)
National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy (2010-2015); and
Policy on Disability (Zanzibar, 2010).
The Zanzibar Occupational and Health Policy (2017).
The current NPAs also build on previous work on VAC and VAW, including the 2009 national
VAC survey and subsequent three-year Multi-Sector National Plan of Action to Prevent and
Respond to Violence against Children (2013-2016), as well as the Zanzibar 2011 National Multi-
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Sectoral Strategy and Action Plan for Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence.76
By integrating the VAC and VAW efforts, the NPAs provide “for the first time a unified and
comprehensive framework that outlines the clear intersections between violence against
women and children whilst recognizing the specific individual needs of each constituency.”77
Some of the intersections noted in the NPAs include:
Shared risk factors for violence against women and children such as weak legal sanctions
against violence, social norms that condone inequality in all spheres, inadequate protection
of human rights as well as weak institutional responses
Common consequences of violence against women and children that affect their physical
health, mental health, and social functioning
Social norms that condone violence against women and children and prevent help seeking;
and
Co-occurrence of violence against women and violence against children in the same
household which refers to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence occurring at
the same household at the same time.78
The NPAs also recognize that it is often the same services that respond to the needs of children
and adult survivors, and consolidating plans was a strategic opportunity to address duplication,
overlap, and inefficiency. 79
Both the Tanzania and Zanzibar NPAs have prioritized investing in building systems to prevent
GBV and respond to the needs of survivors.80 This systems approach involves bringing together
a range of structures, functions and capacities across key sectors, including social services,
health, justice, security, and education from the national to local levels.81 Implementation also
focuses on strengthening data collection and reporting, movement building and coordination
and collaboration.82 These approaches and proposed actions are highlighted below, and
described in more detail in appendix 5.
The NPAs also emphasize several important principles linked to the implementation of the
proposed actions, including universal coverage and equity; gender equality; autonomy and
empowerment of women and girls; engagement of communities and families; alignment with
cultural norms; and a recognition of the needs of the most vulnerable, among others.83
76 Ministry of Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children Development, Multi-Sector National Plan of Action to Respond
to Violence Against Children 2011-15, 2011; and Ministry of Social Welfare, Youth, Women and Children Development, A
Multi-Sectoral Strategy and Action Plan for Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Zanzibar, 2011.
77 National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children Zanzibar, 2017-2022, p. 23.
78 Ibid, 24.
79 Ibid, 7.
80 Ibid, 9.
81 Ibid, 9.
82 The Tanzania NPA refers to the implementation approaches used to operationalize the strategies (Page 12) and the
Zanzibar NPA refers to the principles to guide the implementation of the Plan (Page 28).
83 Ibid.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Eight Thematic Areas of the Tanzania NPA Three Key Outcomes of the Zanzibar
NPA
1. Household economic strengthening 1. An enhanced enabling
environment
2. Norms and values
2. Integrated prevention and
3. Safe environment response; and
4. Parenting, family support, and relationships 3. Support services that build
the capacities of men,
5. Implementation and enforcement of laws women, children, families, and
6. Safe schools and life skills communities.85
7. Response and support services; and
8. Coordination, monitoring, and evaluation. 84
4.2.2 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Policies
In general, the NPAs are quite comprehensive in their approach. The high number of
consultations prior to developing the NPAs have resulted in wider knowledge and understanding
of the rationale for the NPAs. Key informant interviews confirmed that many stakeholders are
aware of NPA priorities. One interviewee stated:
“During the consultations a lot of lively debate on which components would fit in each
thematic area, for instance children, disability concerns. Using the [WHO] INSPIRE
model, we were able to get a criterion of selection and arrived at a consensus on the
eight thematic areas. Actors in this space have a strong understanding of the plan.”86
However, because the NPAs are organized around thematic areas, there are no key sectors
that have core oversight of different elements of the NPAs—this is a departure from the
NPA-VAC. Notably, lead ministries and agencies are described in the costing documents
and operational tools. On the one hand, mainstreaming of the NPAs across ministries has
encouraged ministries to build out their attention to GBV. Key respondents observed that
through gender focal persons in the different ministries, there are national events which are
jointly coordinated such as International Women’s Day and the 16 Days of Activism on Ending
Violence Against Women. And yet, for those ministries and agencies without child protection
or gender specialists, implementation is an ongoing challenge.
84 Based on the seen INSPIRE strategies developed by WHO: Seven evidence-based strategies to prevent violence against
children.
85 National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children in Zanzibar, 2017-2022, p. 34.
86 Key informant interview WILDAF.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Figure 4: NPA Proposed Costing of 8 Thematic Areas, 2017-2021
Challenges in implementation are exacerbated by significant funding gaps. The Tanzania NPA
was costed at 267.4 billion Tanzania shillings over the five years, with the expectation that the
Prime Minister’s Office and several ministries would allocate a proportion of their budgets to
specific NPA commitments. A review of the budget for FY 2017/2018 revealed that the Prime
Minister’s Office did not prioritize the Tanzania NPA for resourcing. The MoHCDGEC has no
mandate to hold other government counterparts responsible if they do not set aside funds for
implementation of the NPA.
Weak institutional capacities and limited infrastructure to embed and fully implement the
NPAs is an ongoing challenge. The financial and human resource gaps were identified during
key informant interviews at the government level as well as amongst non-governmental
organizations. Most of the funding to roll out programs for GBV has been facilitated by
development partners. This is not sustainable.
Moreover, the proposed budget heavily invests in social norms change and household
economic strengthening relative to other interventions. While these allocations are a welcome
recognition of the importance of prevention programming, there remains a need to ensure
spending for both response and prevention of GBV, using evidence-based approaches to
ensure maximum impact.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Box 1: Good Practice Case Study on Cascading the NPA: Shinyanga Region
Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children87
The Shinyanga region presents a success story as the only region in Tanzania that has cascaded
the Tanzania NPA by developing its own regional plan responsive to its context. The benefits
of cascading include strengthening ownership of the plan, identification of context-specific
challenges, and the development of customized GBV and VAC prevention and response
interventions as well as providing an opportunity for accelerated implementation of targeted
interventions ending GBV and VAC.
The plan observes that harmful traditional practices, values, and norms still exist and have
contributed to an increase in some forms of GBV in the Shinyanga region. These social norms and
practices perpetuate unequal relations based on gender, making women and children vulnerable
to physical, sexual, and psychological violence in their homes and in their communities. The
plan notes that traditional ceremonies such as bukwilima and samba contribute to GBV. As the
result of harmful traditional practices, Shinyanga is one of the leading regions for child marriage.
Following enactment of the regional plan, several activities were undertaken to address context-
specific concerns. These include:
Community dialogues, trainings and media interventions targeting men, religious
leaders, and traditional leaders were undertaken to sensitize them on perceptions of
violence against women in relation to harmful practices, and the effects of cultural
norms and values which facilitate violence against women and children.
By-laws from regional level to ward and village level were enacted to ensure the
effectiveness of the response towards harmful traditional practices and related issues.
The Shinyanga Municipal council developed a project for the prevention of violence
in the marketplace that has been implemented in five markets (Ngokolo, Ibinzamata,
Kambarage, Mjini, and Lubaga) with a view to address violence against women and
children in public spaces; and
Awareness raising initiatives on prevention and response to GBV VAC undertaken
through utilization of public forums to create awareness about violence issues that
happen in public and private spaces.
87 Regional Strategic Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children in Shinyanga 2020/2021-2024/2025.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
5. GBV Systems and Coordination Mechanisms
This chapter identifies key systems responsible for the redress of GBV in Tanzania developed
at the national level that then cascade to the local level as designated within the NPAs for
Tanzania and Zanzibar.
5.1 United Republic of Tanzania
5.1.1 Tanzania National Systems
The NPA Tanzania is both multi-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional and organized at the national
level and the local level as shown in figure 5. The NPA Tanzania establishes a National
Protection Steering Committee, National Protection Technical Committee, and Thematic
Working Groups to facilitate coordination for GBV response and prevention.
Figure 5: GBV Coordination under the NPA Tanzania
The National Protection Steering Committee (NPSC) is chaired by the Permanent
Secretary Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Secretariat and is under the
MoHCDGEC. The NPSC provides policy guidance and coordination of the NPA. The
committee meets biannually to ensure national compliance to international obligations,
mainstreaming of NPA, and adequate resourcing. It is responsible for reviewing and
approving annual work plans and offering policy guidance on implementation.88
Insofar as accountability lies at the PMO, this is meant to assure the highest level of political
will, oversight, and efficiency in coordination.
The National Protection Technical Committee (NPTC) is chaired by the Permanent Secretary
88 Members are the Permanent Secretaries from the PMO, Presidents Office—Regional Administration and Local Government
(PO-RALG), Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA)—Police, Prison and Immigration (includes human trafficking), Ministry of Finance
and Planning (MoFP—Commissioner of Budget), Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children
(MoHCDGEC), Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs (MoCLA), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST),
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries (MoALF), Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (MoITI)
and representatives of development partners, civil society organizations (CSOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs).
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
of the MoHCDGEC and meets quarterly. The NPTC reviews and approves sector and thematic
working groups’ progress reports and provides recommendations for improvements. The
Secretariat is also housed in the same Ministry. The Secretariat is comprised of implementing
Ministries led by the Director of Policy and Planning of the Ministry responsible for Women
and Children. The Secretariat serves as secretary to the technical and steering committees,
coordinates reviews, carries out joint monitoring, and prepares guidelines to facilitate
implementation of NPA at all levels.
The Thematic Working Groups (TWGs) are aligned to the eight thematic areas of the Tanzania
NPA. They meet monthly and analyze reports on implementation, facilitate communication
between various partners’ efforts, provide mapping of coordination efforts, and offer technical
assistance to partners. The TWG leads provide progress reports on the NPA implementation
to the NPTC.
5.1.2 Tanzania Subnational Systems
At the local level, the coordination of the Tanzania NPA is housed at the President’s
Office—Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) which supports effective
implementation at the Regional Secretariat, Council, Ward, and Village/Mtaa levels.89 The PO-
RALG’s role is to strengthen the reporting and communication mechanism at local levels, submit
consolidated reports of local government authorities on NPA implementation to the NPSC and
NPTC, convene stakeholders forums annually, and ensure integration of NPA interventions and
mobilization of resources at the local level.
The Regional Secretariat coordinates all the NPA interventions at regional level and is chaired
by the Regional Administrative Secretary.90 This Secretariat meets quarterly to discuss progress,
challenges and lessons learnt and monitors implementation, ensuring all Council plans and
budgets include NPA and convene bi-annual regional stakeholder meetings.
5.2 Zanzibar GBV Systems and Coordination Mechanisms
The Zanzibar Plan of Action is similarly organized with committees established at the National,
District, and Shehia levels (see figure 6 below).
89 National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children in Tanzania 2017/18-2021/22, p. 29.
90 The Regional NPA Committee includes the Regional Community Development Officer, the Regional Social Welfare Officer,
the Regional Police Commander, the Regional Local Government Officer, the Regional Education Officer, the Regional
Medical Officer, the Regional Planning Officer, the Regional Legal Officer, the Regional Immigration Officer, the Regional
Prison Officer, the Regional Labour Officer, the Resident Magistrate-In-Charge, and representatives from CSOs, FBOs, and
women groups.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Figure 6: GBV Coordination under the NPA Zanzibar
The National Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (NC-VAWC) is the highest
coordination mechanism mandated to supervise the implementation of the Plan in Zanzibar.
The Committee is chaired by the Minister Responsible for Legal Affairs and co-chaired by the
Minister Responsible for Women and Children. The custodian of all reports and information
relating to the conduct of the NC-VAWC is the Principal Secretary responsible for Women and
Children. The National Committee is constituted of Ministers and Regional Commissioners and
meetings are hosted bi-annually to review and report on progress.
The key functions of the Committee include: providing regular reports on the implementation
of the Zanzibar NPA; providing policy guidance and expert advice to ensure interventions are
aligned with national policies and strategies; advocating for the mainstreaming of the NPA-
VAWC within relevant government plans and strategies at all levels; supporting the adequate
allocation of resources; expediting the processing of reported cases of violence against
women and children; and providing advisory support to the Ministry responsible for Women
and Children and other relevant national stakeholders in executing their mandate to address
violence against women and children.91
Two Technical Coordination Committees in Unguja and Pemba are responsible for
coordination and oversight of the implementation of the plan. The committees are chaired
by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry responsible for Women and Children in Unguja and
co-chaired by the two Regional Commissioners in Pemba. The custodian of the reports and
information relating to the Technical Committees is the Principal Secretary of the Ministry.
The Technical Committees constitute directors and technical staff from relevant government
ministries, departments, and agencies, NGOs and CSOs. The Committee reviews annual work
plans of relevant implementing agencies and ensures integration of key actions to address
violence against women and children.
91 Zanzibar National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children in 2017/18-2021/22, p. 5.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
At district levels, there are District Committees which report and are directly supervised by
the respective Technical Coordination Committees in Unguja and Pemba. They are responsible
for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of all interventions as well as developing
the multi-year district plan to address violence against women and children. They provide a
platform for communication between different organizations represented in the committee.
They meet monthly and are chaired by the District Administrative Secretary. Most importantly,
the district level committees look at protection data and discuss prevention and response
opportunities and gaps. A standard induction package is used to train all committees; however,
depending on circumstances, additional regional or district-specific protection concerns can
be added to committee training.92
At the community level are Women and Children Protection Committees (MTAKUWWA
committees), comprised of duty bearers and community members who convene quarterly
and share protection concerns across the protection spectrum.
5.3 Key Gaps and Opportunities in Systems and Coordination
A significant aspect of the NPAs is that they consolidate protection structures for women and
children into one system that runs from village to national level. The powerful link from the
PMO down to the village/mtaa and Shehia levels enables a coherent approach to prevention
and response interventions. This reflects and reinforces the NPAs’ prioritization of systems-
building.
The coordination mechanisms have the promise of embedding accountability for results
and outcomes through periodic reporting. From the village/mtaa and Shehia levels, monthly
reports are meant to be generated on progress made, lessons learnt, and proposed mitigation
interventions; at the regional levels, there is meant to be quarterly reporting; at the national
level, annual reports document achievements and constraints and emerging knowledge.
However, it is not clear the extent to which this reporting is in place.
More concretely, there have been 18,186 MTAKUWWA committees established that support
strengthened coordination between key actors and sectors. As impressive as this number
is, it still does not represent national coverage. Moreover, as with all aspect of the Tanzania
NPA, financing remains an issue for coordination. For example, research presented in 2019
reported that the PMO has not designated or earmarked funds for the establishment of a
unified coordinating committee structure proposed in the NPA.93
92 These packages include but are not limited to: the Management and Response Guideline for GBV/VAC Survivors of
2012; Guidelines for the Implementation of the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children
(Mwongozo wa Utaratibu wa Mpango Kazi wa Taifa Wa Kutokomeza Ukatili Dhidhi ya Wanawake Na Watoto) 2017/18-
2021/22; and the National Parenting and Education Manual and the National Policy Guidelines for the Health Sector
Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence, 2011. [[AQ: Please confirm that the existing translation is required
in this footnote.]]
93 Dr. Rasel Mpuya Madaha, 2018. Budget Analysis and Tracking on GBV financing: The Case of Selected Government
Ministries in Tanzania.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
6. GBV Response and Prevention Programming
This chapter summarizes some of the core elements of GBV response and prevention
programming in Tanzania. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to provide a general
overview of the major structures in place to ensure services for survivors, as well as provide
some sense of the programming in place to address prevention of GBV. This section focuses
on government-led actors and initiatives carried out by civil society under the implementation
plan for the Tanzania and Zanzibar NPAs as a starting point for the World Bank to engage with
national partners.
6.1 Response Programming
6.1.1 Health Sector Response
The main infrastructure for the delivery of GBV support services for survivors in Tanzania is
the national health and social welfare services which operate under the MOHSW.94 There is
a national referral system of patient care that includes community dispensaries (4,679), health
centers (481), district hospitals (95), regional hospitals (19), and national referral hospitals (8)
in the country. As part of the Tanzania NPA, OSCs have been scaled up from four to 26 centers.
Healthcare, legal assistance, and psychosocial support services are available under one roof,
with the intent of supporting strengthened collaboration between different service delivery
actors at the community and national level. The OSCs are informed by the National Guidelines
for Integrating and Management of the OSC services into Health Care Facilities (2013). While
key informants expressed support for the OSC approach, concerns were raised about the lack
of financial resources and human capacity.
The National Policy Guidelines for the Health Sector Prevention and Response to Gender-Based
Violence (2001) articulate the roles and responsibilities of Ministry and other stakeholders
in planning and implementation of comprehensive GBV services. The subsequent Clinical
Management Guidelines (2011) provide a framework for standardized medical management
of sexual violence cases and aim to strengthen referrals. Health services include emergency
medical examination, provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Emergency
Contraceptive Pill (ECP), collection of forensic evidence, and referrals where appropriate.
By 2018, at least 22,600 health care providers and social welfare officers had been trained
in these standards from Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Dodoma, Shinyanga, Mara, Mwanza, Geita,
Iringa, Njombe, Katavi, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Morogoro, Kigoma, Mtwara, Simiyu Pwani, Lindi,
Mtwara, Songwe, and Kagera Regions.95 There have also been efforts to integrate GBV into
pre-service curricula for clinicians and nurses, ensuring that GBV training reaches frontline
workers in the health sector. Most regions have held training on GBV and VAC care, treatment,
forensic management of evidence and data collection. However, key informants expressed
some concerns that health care providers may still retain attitudes that are not supportive of
survivors. As captured by one respondent:
94 National Guidelines Health Sector, p. 6.
95 United Republic of Tanzania, Beijing Plus 25, p. 15.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
“Persistent stereotypes around survivors and concerns around why they put themselves
at risk in the first place undermine any potential implementation of the survivor-
centered packages [by health care providers].”
6.1.2 Psychosocial Sector Response
There is a National Child Helpline #116 that offers a toll-free service across all mobile
networks in Tanzania and Zanzibar for women and children who are at risk of violence, as
well as family and community members who report children at risk. The Helpline has been
developed by the government with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It
is served by at least 55 counsellors.
In addition, the National Policy Guidelines for the Health Sector provide that psychosocial
support be availed to GBV survivors. The guidelines designate social workers and community
development workers be trained to provide psychosocial support services to GBV survivors,
and underscores the need for safety and protection, including shelters/safe houses.96 However,
the assessment established that while the OSCs offer some counselling, there is limited
formal psychosocial services for GBV survivors in Tanzania. The Muhimbili National Hospital (a
government-sponsored hospital) in Dar es Salaam offers a counseling program for survivors of
GBV but the program focuses on child sexual violence survivors. Most of counseling available
in public hospitals is focused on HIV and not GBV.
Social workers are key in identifying the GBV and VAC risks within the community and are often
the first point of contact for survivors and coordinate the continuum of care. While training of
social workers has been undertaken, they are not sufficient in numbers.97 The country has
a deficit of 62 percent of social welfare workforce and as such have adopted an approach of
utilizing community case workers trained as frontline workers in responding to GBV and VAC.98
Moreover, existing social workers have not been sufficiently trained in case management or
psychosocial response.
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the MoHCDGEC, with support from UN Women, organized
the first training-of-trainers on mental health, GBV, and psychosocial support services. Thirty-
three social welfare officers and psychologists from the Ministry of Health, Institute of Social
Work, Tanzania Social Workers Association, Segerea Correctional Services, and community
development and health care workers attended the workshop.
Other organizations such as the Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organizations
(SHIVYAWATA) provide specialized counselling and support services to survivors with special
needs.
96 National Policy Guideline for the Health Sector Prevention and Response to GBV, p 19.
97 A Facilitators Guide for Health Care Providers and Social Welfare Officers on GBV and VAC has been developed and rolled
out since July 2017.
98 Interview with Assistant Director Social Welfare Services Department of Health, Social Welfare & Nutrition Services,
President’s Office, Regional Administration & Local Government.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
6.1.3 Legal/Justice Response
In 2008 and 2012, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs undertook two key
assessments which inform current reforms in the legal sector, namely, the Legal Sector Reform
Assessment in Tanzania (2008), and the Capacity and Needs Assessment of the Legal Sector
Actors in Zanzibar together with the Assessment of Need and Obstacles in Zanzibar (2012).
These assessments found that beneficiaries of legal services, particularly women, young
people, the elderly, and the poor experienced significant barriers in accessing services,
including corruption, lack of affordable legal representation, and social pressures. These
findings were further supported by key informant interviews. In addition, multiple cases
of sexual harassment have been documented in the legal system, including “demands for
monetary and sexual favours as preconditions for obtaining bail,99 favourable judgment or
employment benefits.”100
Social pressures and corruption in the judicial system mean the rate of successful GBV
prosecutions is very low. Witnesses and perpetrators may have control over survivors,
or perpetrators may bribe witnesses or otherwise corrupt the process of administration of
justice. In other cases, perpetrators will apologize and pledge to compensate and desist from
their behavior and the matter is resolved. Survivors may never report their intimate partners
because they don’t want them to go to jail because they are the sole breadwinners, or they are
afraid of retribution and punishment for reporting.101
Figure 7 below highlights these trends.102 Of a total of 1,091 GBV cases reported in Dar es
Salaam between 2008 and 2012, the vast majority (945) involved children, and the forms of
violence were as follows: rape (533), trafficking (275), sodomy (92) and physical violence (24).
Less than 1 in 6 reported cases in any given year were brought to court, and fewer still resulted
in a conviction.
Figure 7: Results of GBV Cases Filed in Court from Central Police Station (2008-2012)103
Source: WiLDAF Report, 2012, p. 40.
99 For example, Onesphory Materu vs. Republic (Court of Appeal) Tanga, Criminal Appeal No. 334 of 2009, where a police
officer on duty raped a 14- year-old inside the remand cell on a written promise that he would release her from custody.
He also allowed her to sit on a bench outside and get a glimpse of sunshine. When he refused to release her as promised,
the girl filled charges giving the release note as part of her evidence of the unfulfilled promise.
100 Legal Sector Reform Programme. Gender Assessment of Legal Sector Institutions in Tanzania, Ministry of Constitutional
and Legal Affairs, Dar es Salaam, 2012, p. 37.
101 Legal Sector Reform Programme. Gender Assessment of Legal Sector Institutions in Tanzania, Ministry of Constitutional
and Legal Affairs, Dar es Salaam, 2012, p. 37.
102 Central Police Station, Dar-es salaam.
103 WiLDAF Report, 2012, p. 40.
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Nevertheless, some progress is being made. To address the confidentiality of GBV court cases,
Zanzibar has designated judges to form a Special Family Court which fast tracks completion of
cases for quick resolution. The government and private sector have increased efforts to provide
free or low-cost legal services in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Several NGOs and CSOs, including the
Tanzania Women Lawyers Association, Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (ZAFELA), Legal
Human Rights Centre, and WiLDAF offer paralegal services by trained lay advisors, particularly
in rural areas. The government has also begun providing legal aid assistance and increased
investments in child justice programming in partnership with UNICEF and UNDP. Despite these
improvements, the number of lawyers offering legal aid services remains insufficient to meet
the demand.
6.1.4 Security Response
The Tanzanian Police Force (TPF) has strengthened its response to cases of GBV, including
through the establishment of the Tanzania Police Female Network. Further steps taken under
the TPF’s Three-Year Action Plan (2013-2016) included establishing 417 Gender and Children’s
Desks, training officers to provide more victim-centered services, and creating 13 new One
Stop Centres in mainland Tanzania for GBV services.
The TPF have also developed comprehensive guidelines on the establishment of Gender and
Children’s Desks. While respondents note that there have been significant improvements in
these desks since the new guidelines, many officers still revert to encouraging reconciliation in
the case of intimate partner violence. According to one key respondent,
“Police officers scorn upon a woman reporting spousal beating, even though it is
prohibited by law. Often they will interrogate her as to what would have provoked her
husband to the beating.”
Moreover, most of the Gender and Children Desks do not have the appropriate infrastructure
to operate as not all have been upgraded in line with the guidelines. In these instances,
much-needed privacy is compromised, resulting in a lack of critical evidence about the details
of the violation. With limited government resourcing for the NPA, it has not been possible to
resource the rollout of the minimum requirements for the Gender and Children Desks to the
extent planned.
6.1.5 Referral Pathways and Information Management
The MTAKUWWA committees are felt to be improving coordination and increasing referrals
on cases of violence, linking survivors to support and services. Key informants noted there
have been positive changes in help seeking behaviors, as articulated by one respondent, “Now,
GBV is more public through greater reporting.” Kigoma was highlighted by many respondents
as a model site demonstrating the presence of vibrant and well-supported MTAKUWWA
Committees as well as community organizing for awareness and sensitization that has resulted
in an operational referral system for survivors of violence and increased reporting. Even so,
as mentioned previously, there are disparities in capacities and regions being reached by the
committees.
The NPAs are also building on existing district case management systems (DCMS) and
processes for the development of a comprehensive women and child protection system.
When the child protection systems were being established during the NPA-VAC, the structures
to prevent and respond to violence were either weak or non-existent. There were no joint
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
approaches by police, health, and social welfare officials; as such, the government began
investments in a structured case management system. The establishment of children’s
protection teams developed referral pathways between the police, social welfare, health, and
education sectors as well as emergency assistance for child protection cases. However, the
roll-out of the District Case Management System (DCMS) is still ongoing.
Financing for coordination is a challenge as the various referral pathways require resources in
order to be effective. This includes financing for data collection and management. For instance,
the social workers manual (paper) system of recording GBV or VAC incidents is a hinderance
The recently developed web-based software system for district case management has been
rolled out to 36 out of the 185 Districts, but the minimal coverage hinders the opportunity for
improved efficiency in response and tracking of reported GBV and VAC cases.104 These manual
systems are also encountered at the Police Gender and Children Desks, health facilities and
the courts.
Despite the referral mechanism, gaps emerge when there is no formal case management
system. According to one respondent,
“… as there is no checklist -- and where there is one it is manually recorded and stored
-- partners cannot tell how the survivor is being supported through the different levels of
referral. There is need for an automated and harmonized case management system to
enable everyone in the referral pathway to effectively follow up on the survivor.
6.2 GBV Prevention Programming
GBV prevention programming is largely community-based and driven by NGOs and community
and faith-based actors. These efforts seek to promote awareness and sensitization about GBV
within institutions of learning, faith-based institutions, and community spaces. An example
of GBV prevention programming is the CHAMPION Project, a mass media and community
awareness campaign designed to reduce GBV and promote positive messages and changes in
social norms.
The Data Driven Advocacy Project,105 another initiative aimed at strengthening advocacy
and development of appropriate communication messages, has several working groups and
endeavors to build the capacity of CSOs to generate and use data to advocate for GBV-related
policy change. (For additional examples of prevention interventions by NGOs and CSOs in
Tanzania, see appendix 6.)
While civil society is responsible for the majority of GBV prevention efforts in Tanzania,
some government programs have been implemented under the NPA, including a National
Communications and Outreach Strategy to End VAWC. The strategy aims at addressing
harmful social norms and replacing them with positive and protective social norms. The
communications plan is being cascaded at regional levels with the support of civil society.
According to one respondent, “Since we are holding joint sensitization activities with
government, the community has become more interested and participates actively… a sign
that there is an opportunity to listen and reshape the harmful traditional practices.”
104 Ibid.
105 A project funded by Freedom House and Pact Tanzania. WiLDAF is convenor of one of the working groups.
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In Zanzibar, the Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Youth, Women and Children
launched the Zanzibar Social Protection Policy in 2014 to establish a social protection system
to manage women’s economic risks and social vulnerability and ensure access to essential
basic services. Building on this effort, the National Social Protection Policy Implementation
Plan (NSPPIP) 2017-2022 is under development. In addition, in some regions, interventions
have been undertaken to establish and strengthen women’s savings groups and train families
on financial management. Another intervention which has proven promising is strengthening
the land tenure security system to promote women’s sole and joint land ownership.106
This includes creating a more enabling environment for women to hold land titles and for
smallholder farmers, including young women, to participate and be more productive in the
agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in collaboration with the World Bank has
developed the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQUIP) which aims to
increase access to secondary education, provide responsive learning environments for girls
and improve completion of quality secondary education for girls and boys. The SEQUIP project
implementation is supported by a GBV Action Plan which highlights key components on
awareness-raising and shifting norms and attitudes so as to prevent GBV.
106 UN Women and UNFPA Joint Project, e.g., in Ikungi district supporting participatory village land use planning, issuance of
Certificates of Customary Rights of Occupancy (CCRO’s) to women and men.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
7. Recommendations
Informed by the findings from this review, this section provides several high-level rec-
ommendations organized in terms of the core areas of investigation for this review:
legislation and policies; systems and coordination; and GBV response and prevention
programming. The recommendations offer key considerations for how the WB can sup-
port GBV-specialized programming efforts in Tanzania and are also meant to inform
future strategies for building out attention to GBV in WB’s development portfolio.
7.1 Legislation and Policy
Further NPA efforts to reform laws that undermine rights of women and girls to be free
from violence and discrimination, particularly by promoting advocacy on specific provisions
for domestic violence and marital rape in the penal code.
Consider facilitating a strategy that supports sustainable funding for the NPAs and their
accelerated implementation, such as through the establishment of a large basket fund
led by government with support from private sector and development partners. Ensure
this strategy builds out commitment and capacity of government to meet its budgetary
responsibilities through the development and implementation of ongoing funding
mobilization strategies.
Support an evaluation of the NPAs as they near completion that can be used as the basis for
development of a successor plan(s).
Building on the Shinyanga example, support efforts to cascade the Tanzania NPA to the
regional level as a way to build out regional ownership and implementation of the NPA.
Conduct a review of the National Social Protection Policy Implementation Plan: assess
current efforts to increase economic empowerment livelihoods for GBV survivors and
women and girls at risk of violence and devise further interventions focused on economic
stability based on the findings of the assessment.
7.2 Systems and Coordination
Strengthen national systems for coordination by facilitating a rapid review of the
implementation of the coordination system for the NPAs and target support to key gaps at
the national level, such as the MoHCDGEC, as well the Secretariat of the National Protection
Steering Committee. Include in this the capacity to promote monitoring and reporting on
coordination at all levels of the coordination system.
Invest in improvements to GBV information management systems to ensure standardized
and quality GBV data is collected throughout the country. This could be done through the
roll-out of the District Case Management System (DCMS) in those districts where it is not
yet established.
7.3 Response and Prevention
Increase investments towards development or capacity strengthening of systems,
structures, and mechanisms for GBV response/service delivery to ensure the availability,
accessibility, usability, responsiveness, and accountability of such services across the entire
service delivery chain, i.e., justice sector, health sector, and social welfare sector.
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Change social norms that perpetuate the under-reporting of GBV by promoting help-
seeking behaviors and building the capacity of service providers to enable them to ensure
survivor-centered approaches to GBV.
Support the development of a national system to monitor the quality and sustainability of
service provision in OSCs, including staff capacity assessments and quality-of-care feedback
by survivors receiving care. Invest in staff training on survivor-centered approaches
and expanding access to care for under-served populations through the MTAKUWWA
committees.
Develop a strategy for building out the social welfare workforce and improving capacity of
social workers to provide psychosocial services as part of case management.
Facilitate police training through the Police Academy as well as through targeted training to
Police and Gender Desks on the existing Police Gender and Children Desk guidance.
Consider piloting the Zanzibar Special Family Court model in mainland Tanzania in order to
build trust in court processes and fast-track cases.
Build legal literacy among the population through translation of laws and policies as well as
support to widespread community outreach and sensitization. Link this to support for free
legal aid in areas where this is not currently available to survivors.
Support a review of the NPA’s National Community and Outreach Strategy to ensure that its
approach is aligned with best practices for the prevention of GBV through changing social
norms and consider scaling up elements of the strategy in order to support measurable
behavior change.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Appendix 1: Key Informant Interview Guiding
Questions
1. How have you been involved in overall development and implementation of the National
Plan of Action 2017-2022?
2. How have the following three key outcomes of the plan been realized?
Enabling environment – legislative and policy environment, adequate resources,
data and information management and improved coordination
Prevention – norms and values strengthening, income and economic strengthening,
safe environments, family and parent support, education, and life skills
Response and Support services – integrated national protection mechanism
established, national and local response and support services.
3. In developing the NPA outcomes, key guiding principles were outlined to assure
responsiveness of the Plan. How are these principles integrated in implementation of
plan? Specially,
That the system is accessible to all women and children throughout Zanzibar
including most hard to reach rural areas
Confidentiality and privacy of survivors is maintained
The safety, wellbeing and empowerment of women and children are paramount;
the accountability of perpetrators is emphasized and sought through all appropriate
channels.
4. Overall, does the NAP-VAWC sufficiently respond to prevention and response of GBV/VAC?
5. The multisectoral response anticipated in the plan entails partnerships of multiple sectors
as well as coordination and partnerships between the public and private sector as well as
other stakeholders. What is the extent of these partnerships and how are they responding
to ending GBV?
6. How is the multisectoral coordination mechanism working? Follow up on gains, challenges
and lessons learnt.
7. To what extent have the resources sufficiently enabled the realization of the NPA-VAWC?
8. Recommendations to end GBV? What else should be done to make the programs more
effective?
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Appendix 2: Key Informants Interviewed
1. Rasheed Mufta –Social Welfare Services, Department of Health
2. Anna Kakuta - WiLDAF
3. Mary Richards, Head of Programmes, TAWLA
4. Anna Henga, Executive Director, LHRC
5. Fulgence Massawe, Director Advocacy and Reform, LHRC
6. Hodan Addou -UN Women – Country Director, UNICEF
7. Maud Droogleever Fortuijn- UNICEF
8. Stephanie Shanler - UNICEF
Zanzibar workshop consultations
9. Mrs. Muhaza Gharib Juma -Social Welfare
10. Hafidhuu Said – Social Welfare
11. Jamila Mahamoud- ZAFELA
12. Abdallah Abeid- ZAFAYCO
13. Zahor Faki Mjaka- POLICE DESK
14. Amina Abdulrahma Yussuf- (JUMAZA)
15. Naila Abdulbasit – Mahakama ya Watoto
16. Ali Rashid Salim – Media Consultant
17. Asha Aboud – ANGOZA
18. Onesmo Ole Ngurumwa
19. Ali Chirikira – UN Women
20. Salma Said- WAHAMAZA
21. Abeid – ZanzibLS
22. Hassan Issa – UKUEM
23. Hawra Shamte - TAMWA
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Appendix 3: National Legislation Relating To GBV
Statute Summary
The Constitution of the Explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender among other
United of the Republic things. Articles 12-29 incorporate the Bill of Rights and Duties, which
of Tanzania 1977 set out the basic rights and duties of citizens which broadly asserts
and protects against GBV.
The Penal Code, Cap 16 Incepted long before Tanzania’s independence in 1961107, discourages
(revised in 2002) GBV offences such as intimidation and neglecting children.
Law of Marriage Act, This law is the main piece of legislation which governs all forms
Cap. 29 of matrimonial affairs in Tanzania. It has existed since 1977 with
significant amendments to human rights discourse added through
the CEDAW, Maputo Protocol and other legislative instruments.
Law of the Child Act Enacted to give effect to the international human rights instruments
(2009) and the Zanzibar on the rights of the child, as well as the mechanism of unifying
Children’s Act 2011 legislation providing for the rights of children. The law also came as
a solution to the prolonged demand and advocacy of stakeholders in
children’s rights. Establishes multisectoral procedures that provide
standards for identifying, referring, and responding to cases of child
abuse and other forms of violence.108 They incorporate the essential
elements required to build a protective environment, including
a child-friendly justice system. The law of the Child prohibits child
labor, (Section 78) and sexual exploitation of children (Section 83).
The punishment for sexual exploitation of a minor is a fine of not less
than 1 million Tanzania shillings and nor more than 5 million or to
imprisonment for a term of not less than 1 year and not more than
20 years or both.
The Evidence Act The Evidence Act (Cap 6) has undergone several amendments since
the SOSPA amendments in 1998. In terms of admissibility of evidence,
this has been widened to allow for the admissibility of evidence
from young children who are survivors of violence. The provision
states that the child can give evidence of the events even if it is
uncorroborated provided that the Court finds such evidence credible
and has helped establish the value of testimony by children in sexual
offences. This could have contributed to the doubling of countrywide
reporting to the police of sexual crimes by children below 15 years of
age during the period of 2004-2008.109
Sexual Offences Enacted with the aim of protecting the dignity and integrity of women
(Special Provision) Act in matters relating to rape, defilement, sodomy, sexual harassment,
1998 incest, FGM, child abuse, and child trafficking.
107 Penal Code, Cap. 16 is part of received laws of 1930.
108 United Republic of Tanzania 2011, Violence Against Children in Tanzania: Findings from National Survey 2009, p. 110.
109 Tanzania Women Lawyers Association, Review of Laws and Policies related to Gender-Based Violence of Mainland
Tanzania, p. 18.
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Anti-Trafficking in The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2008 implements Tanzania’s
Persons Act No. 6, 2008 obligations under the UN Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime, including the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons. This builds from the criminal penalties
for tracking in persons established by SOSPA and places definitions,
penalties, and protection of victims under one legal umbrella.
HIV/AIDS Prevention Prohibits stigmatization and criminalizes intentional transmission of
Act No. 28, 2008 HIV.
Land Act, 1999 Presumes interest of women to matrimonial property.
The Prevention The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act 2007 establishes
and Combating of the Prevention and Control of Corruption Bureau (PCCB). The PCCB
Corruption Act 2007 is mandated to handle all types of corruption including the demand
or offer of sexual favors in exchange for official services. Section 125
of the PCCA provides that “Any person being of position or authority,
who in the exercise of his authority, demands or imposes sexual
favor or any other favor on another person as a condition for giving
employment, a promotion, a right, a privilege or any preferential
treatment commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a
fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding three years or both.” This provides explicit protection
against sexual exploitation and abuse, colloquially referred to as
sextortion.
The Employment and The Employment and Labour Relations 2004 makes provision
Labour Relations, 2004 for labor rights and establishes basic employment standards.
The legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, gender,
pregnancy, marital status, disability, HIV/AIDS or age. Sexual
harassment is also prohibited as articulated in Section 7(5). The
law also prohibits night work for pregnant mothers under certain
circumstances,110 while guaranteeing maternity leave as a right for
mothers and paternity leave for fathers. The Zanzibar Public Sector
Service Regulation of 2014, Section 36(1) prohibits all forms of
gender-based violence in the workplace for employee and employers.
The Criminal Procedure Prevents anyone accused of sexual offenses from qualifying for bail
Act 2007/8 and has increased sentences that courts can pass for related cases.
Education Act 2016 Prohibits child marriage by clearly stipulating in Section 60 (1) that
it is unlawful under any circumstance for a) any person to marry a
primary or secondary school girl or boy or b) a primary or secondary
school boy to may any person. Any contravention to this law merits
a 30-year imprisonment and also provides penalty for impregnating
a primary or secondary school girl at 30 years. For anyone who
aids, abates, or solicits a school going child to marry while pursuing
their education they are also committing a crime liable to five years
imprisonment or five million shillings fine or both. The law also
stipulates that “Every head of school shall keep a record and submit to
the Commissioner or his representative a detailed quarterly report of
cases of marriages and pregnancies and legal actions taken against
the offenders.”
110 Section 20, Employment and Labour Relations Act 2004.
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Appendix 4: International And National Frameworks
Relevant To Tanzania’s Commitments On GBV
International and national frameworks committing to ending violence against women and
children
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set targets to realize measurable progress
addressing violence against women and children:
SDG 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and sets
targets on elimination on harmful practices.
SDG 16 sets targets for ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence
against children.
The Agreed Conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at
its 57th session provides further guidance for establishing comprehensive, coordinated,
inter-disciplinary, accessible, and sustained multi-sectoral services for all victims and
survivors of all forms of violence against women and girls.
Updated Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence
against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice provide broad
recommendations that cover substantive, procedural, and operational criminal justice
issues while recognizing the importance of a holistic, coordinated multidisciplinary
response (General Assembly Resolution 65/457).
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW, 1985 and its Optional Protocol (2006). General Recommendation 19 outlines
what member states should be doing to address the issue of violence against women.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 1995 and its 12 Critical Areas of concern.
The Government has identified four themes as country priorities: enhancement of
women’s legal capacity, economic empowerment of women and poverty eradication,
women’s political empowerment and decision making, and women’s access to education
and employment.
The Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989 and its Optional Protocols
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and
Children, 2006
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), 1984
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in
Africa
(Maputo Protocol), 2003
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The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) and relevant regional
Protocols
Tanzania Development Vision 2025 with its goal for peace and social tolerance which
includes gender equality and empowerment of women in all socio-economic and political
spheres.
The Zanzibar Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUZA III):
Empowers women and protects children for economic and social transformation
Sets targets on gender equality and equity
Sets target on prevention and response to violence.
Appendix 5: Guiding Principles And Approaches Of The
NPAs
Implementation Proposed Actions
approach
Getting to the right legal Law of Marriage Act to reduce child marriage
framework
Law of Inheritance
Child Act classification of child violence as crimes
Strengthening alternative justice systems
Promoting a responsive and sensitive legal system to
vulnerable persons, particularly for children in conflict with
the law, women children with disabilities and children with
albinism.
Multi-sectoral response Partnerships between multiple sectors, including health,
gender, child protection, education, law enforcement,
judicial and social affairs, public and private sector, civil
society, and professional associations.
Scaling response Analysis of capacity and “starting point” at national and
district levels to ensure geographic disparities are not
created/sustained.
Building comprehensive integrated system for all survivors of
violence such as Protection Committees, One Stop Centres,
Police, Gender and Children’s desks.
Improving identification, service delivery and reporting.
Provision of quality health, social welfare and criminal
justice support services for women and children to respond
to violence.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Focusing on prevention Sustained work on norms and values.
Building the capacities of families and communities to
empower and protect women and children.
Focus on root causes of violence at all stages of life.
Engaging men as key agents in addressing unequal gender
roles.
Ensuring children are safe in schools.
Strengthening data Development of indicators and tools for measuring trends111
collection, analysis, and in line with national development blueprints, Agenda 2063
reporting and SDGs, and resolve the absence of baseline data.
Build on existing data sources and mainstream in all relevant
sectors.
Evidence-based practice to inform interventions.
Best practice consensus relevant to social-cultural context.
Movement building Increase numbers and diversity of actors working to prevent
violence at all levels.
Engage with traditional community structures and processes.
Translating plans into Integrate costed interventions within the annual budget
budgets frameworks of responsible implementing institutions.
Focusing on the most Focusing on women and children at most risk.
vulnerable
Address the needs of women and children disadvantaged
and discriminated against due to gender, income, disability,
or other vulnerabilities.
Coordination and Strengthen coordination at the national and subnational
collaboration levels.
Enhance awareness on annual plan targets and terms of
reference.
111 The lack of comprehensive baseline data, reliable and consistent measurement systems has been found as a limiting
factor in terms of responsiveness and impact of interventions.
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Appendix 6: Examples Of GBV Prevention
Programming In Tanzania
1. KIVULINI: Community Mobilization to End GBV
KIVULINI was established in 1999 and works closely with women and men through community
action groups, community volunteers, and end violence groups. Kivulini works to address the
root causes of GBV by mobilizing the communities (young people, women, and men) over an
extended period of time to change attitudes and behaviors. The GBV prevention work is based
on Mobilizing Communities to Prevent Domestic Violence developed by Raising Voices.
The community groups are at the forefront of the efforts and play a key role in ‘getting the
word out’ to other women, men, community leaders, and children. There are over 300
members who take the lead in organizing and conducting community dialogues, public events,
community theatre, video shows, impromptu discussions, etc., within their own streets
and communities. These community members also track cases of violence, help women
experiencing violence, conduct family mediation and refer clients to Kivulini or other relevant
institutions when additional support is needed. Their goal is to create dialogue about, and
action against, domestic violence. The representatives of all the groups meet monthly with
Kivulini staff to plan, review, discuss challenges, problem solve and get further training. These
representatives then train and support other members in the groups.
2. AFNET: Masanga Catholic Sisters and Alternative Rights of Passage
FGM awareness and advocacy is led by the Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Network of Tanzania
(AFNET) who strive to create awareness of the negative effects of FGM and the importance
of eradicating it.112 Plan International, Tanzania, also leads a coalition to create awareness,
provide training, counselling and empower survivors to break the cycle of FGM and to advocate
for their daughters and siblings not to undergo FGM.113
Through collaborative initiatives such as a month-long training on human rights, reproductive
health, extra tutoring in school subjects and positive cultural training, followed by a graduation
ceremony, serves as an alternative to FGM as a rite of passage for girls in the community, which
has been operational since 2007 has led to the graduation of over 2,000 girls who attended the
camp. The training aims to protect girls from FGM, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy,
and to keep them in school.
The Association of Termination of Female Genital Mutilation Masanga Centre has an alternative
rite of passage which was commended by the government as one way proving to the community
the possibility of sustaining good moral standards without subjecting a girl to FGM. In 2019,
it was reported in a national newspaper that the girls camped at the ATFGM Masanga Centre
when the FGM season was held in various parts of the region. Many girls escaped from their
homes to the Centre after they discovered they were at high risk of being forced to undergo
the harmful practice. Masanga Centre has since 2008 saved almost 3000 girls from undergoing
the cut. The Centre is strategically located at the heart of communities that embrace FGM. It is
run by Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church under the Diocese of Musoma.114
112 Network Against Female Genital Mutilation (NAFGEM)
113 Amiri. A. The Violence Against Women in Tanzania: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), p. 24.
114 United Nations, Tanzania, UNFPA, Tanzania and the European Union, FGM Fact Sheet.
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
3. TANLAP: The Anti-GBV Clubs—Norm Changing in the Formative Years
The project targets children and young persons is girl’s rights and legal aid clubs selected
districts in Kagera Region which was established in early 2019, in collaboration with Kagera
regional government, to facilitate debates and teaching to younger girls about their rights,
including the right to education, the importance of the rule of law and access to justice. These
ongoing clubs also provide useful forums/opportunities for girls, boys, paralegals, Welfare
Officers, and teachers to meet and discuss issues relating to girl’s rights and legal aid services
for the promotion and protection of women, girls, and boys within their communities against
GBV.
4. Championing Gender Equality: The CHAMPION Project’s Gender-Based Violence
Prevention Interventions in Tanzania
The Kuwa Mfano wa Kuigwa (Be a Role Model) mass media and community awareness
campaign was launched to influence the national dialogue around GBV in Tanzania. Spread
through print and electronic media (e.g., television, radio), the campaign focused on key GBV
messages coupled with motivational messages and a call to action for men to be role models in
their communities. Additionally, CHAMPION trained 125 journalists on GBV. Other community
outreach activities targeted places where men congregate, such as football matches and
bars. The project provided technical assistance and training for the MCDGC on effective
strategies for addressing GBV, including coordinating multi-sectoral and civil society efforts to
address violence. Further, CHAMPION worked with the MCDGC to develop a supplementary
GBV module for the Community Development Technical Institutes’ curricula, as well as draft
National GBV Interventions Coordination Guidelines.
GBV intervention results demonstrated the value of investing in the social and cultural
environment to change attitudes and beliefs about gender, violence, HIV, and male involvement.
In addition:
CHAMPION’s GBV interventions reached nearly 90,000 community members with
individual or small-group GBV prevention activities in target districts.
Increased awareness of GBV also led to an increased number of people seeking support.
Findings from a qualitative assessment indicate that community perceptions and dialogue
around GBV have improved over time as a result of the project.
The radio spots, posters, trainings, and community outreach programs contributed to most
positive changes.
The “Be a Role Model” mass media campaign was successful in achieving its main behavior
change objective: to increase dialogue about GBV and shift entrenched social norms
surrounding GBV in Tanzania. Results showed that it is possible to alter opinions and behaviors
surrounding GBV, such as whether a man is ever justified in hitting his wife, chooses to act
against GBV, and initiates a conversation about GBV with family and friends, through mass
media communications.115
115 Engender Health (2014) Championing Gender Equality: The CHAMPION Project’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention
Interventions. CHAMPION BRIEF No. 14. CHAMPION-Brief-14-GBV-Overview_lowres.pdf (engenderhealth.org)
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Appendix 7: Best Practices In Comparative Context
The issue of GBV remains high in Tanzania and Zanzibar notwithstanding positive government
policies and programmes. There are, however, innovative programmatic interventions from
the African region and beyond that can provide examples of good practice. Evidence from
other contexts suggests that strategies that combine a variety of elements which have been
selected on the basis of the local context and the need to address root causes of the violence
and make for the most successful interventions in ending GBV and VAC.
1. Shifting gender roles and social expectations that normalize VAW (Ethiopia)
Some of the key elements of successfully programming to end violence against women
include attention to both gender responsive and gender transformative approaches. The
following example116 notes that the “intentional utilization of the coffee ceremony provided an
opportunity for facilitators to model non-traditional gender roles, promote equitable behaviors
and at the same time increase the cultural relevance of the program. It also served as an entry
point to discuss various topics related to gender norms, power and sexuality.”117
Unite for A Better Life (UBL) in Southern Ethiopia Gets Men to Reduce
Intimate Partner Violence Over Coffee
Using a traditional female activity, the coffee ceremony, UBL gathered women and men together for
“discussion and interactive activities focused on gender norms, sexuality, communication and conflict
resolution, HIV/AIDS, and IPV.” Notably, each participant had an opportunity to prepare the coffee
for the group, and the act of deliberately subverting gender norms118 was thought to perhaps have
contributed to the positive outcomes summarized here as follows:
Effectively reduces reported perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) among indirect
beneficiaries (members of the broader community in villages targeted by the intervention)
when delivered to men
Shifts gender norms and HIV risk behaviors among indirect beneficiaries when delivered to
men, women, and couples
In general, the effects for indirect beneficiaries are comparable to the effects for direct
beneficiaries, suggesting that intervention messages have effectively diffused through the
broader community
The gender transformative intervention took place in a rural setting with low education and
socioeconomic indices: 75 percent women and 50 percent men not educated; and
Messaging delivered to men is diffused to non-participants.119
116 Leight J, Deyessa N, Verani F, et al. (28th January 2021) Community level spillover effects of an intervention to prevent
intimate partner violence and HIV transmission in rural Ethiopia. BMJ Global Health. https://gh.bmj.com/content/
bmjgh/6/1/e004075.full.pdf
117 Ibid. https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/6/1/e004075.full.pdf
118 Ibid. https://gh.bmj.com/content/bmjgh/6/1/e004075.full.pdf
119 Source: Leight J, Deyessa N, Verani F, et al. Community level spillover effects of an intervention to prevent intimate
partner violence and HIV transmission in rural Ethiopia. BMJ Global Health 2021
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
2. Harnessing communication: Techniques to foster positive change to end VAW – Tanzania,
Uganda, and Kenya
Communication tools play a critical role in educating, informing, and supporting actions to
end GBV. Examples of three good practice are shared below highlighting the effectiveness of
communications tools which recognize gender and the diversity of audience. Public health
studies suggest that education entertainment has succeeded where information campaigns
have failed.120 The two examples below—Uganda’s communal anti-GBV Edutainment and
Kenya’s Tahidi High television series—are strong examples of social norms and attitudinal
change efforts to end GBV and VAC through the use of commercial media.
Adolescent Schoolgirls Empowered by Television in Kenya121
Tahidi High, a popular Kenyan TV series developed in 2007, is currently doing prime time re-runs that
began in 2020. In one recent replay, a man convinces the headmistress of a school to allow a teenage
girl who has recently delivered a to return to her studies. The man points out to the headmistress that
the future of this Kenyan baby depends on his mother’s education and that the father of the child is
allowed to return to school.122
Several related issues are also discussed including father of the child and his male friends lying about
the girl’s reputation to shame the girl and tarnish her reputation, school gossip, etc. The issue is
resolved with the girl being allowed back to school with the support of the headmaster and her close
friends.
Such stories, whether commercially produced or donor-funded, can appeal to a young audience and
show the universality of the challenges faced by people of all ages and the positive changes that can
be brought about through their own advocacy.
3. Rethinking Safety: A Multidimensional Response to GBV/VAW (Israel)
Women and children suffer twice, once at the hands of the perpetrator and secondly when
forced to leave their homes and begin an uncertain future at a safe house. Israel’s approach at
Beit-Noam is to provide stability for the wife and children instead by removing the perpetrator,
but not into incarceration. The perpetrator continues their employment but is housed in a
residential facility and barred from returning home until deemed safe for his family.
120 A. Banerjee, A. Ferrara, E. and Orozco, V. (2017); Entertainment, Education and Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pandp.20191073. Green, D.P. Wilke, A. and Cooper, J. (January 31, 2019).
Countering violence against women at scale: A mass media experiment in rural Uganda. https://www.poverty-action.
org/sites/default/files/publications/GreenWilkeCooper2019.pdf, p.28.
121 The Portrait of a Secondary School Student in a Contemporary Kenyan Television Drama: A Study of Tahidi High, p. 24.
Wesonga O. Robert June 2011, Wesonga, Kenyatta University doc link
122 Researchers analyzing soap operas and telenovelas (television novel or soap operas), agree that these modern genres
shape opinions, prompting viewers to reflect on their lives and prepare for social change. Highly charged soap operas
like Tahidi High rely on romantic tension and other features of serial narrative to offer education-entertainment. Robin
Okuthe (September 8, 2010) Agencies Take Soap Operas into Life Messaging Microsoft Word - Agencies Take Soap
Operas into Life Messaging (sfcg.org).
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Tanzania Gender Based Violence Assessment
Hostels for Battering Men: A New Approach in Israel
In 1997, the Beit Noam Association established the Beit Noam Residential Treatment Center, a hostel
for battering men who are in criminal proceedings with the law due to domestic violence and who
were referred for treatment. Referrals to Beit Noam are mainly by probation officers and social
services personnel. The Beit Noam hostel is designed to provide its residents with a therapeutic and
educational structure. While battering men undergo an intensive four-month residential treatment
program at Beit Noam, their wives or partners and children remain in their home and are not forced
to seek shelter outside their communities. The hostel houses 13 residents at any given time, each one
for a four- month period, engaged in a therapy process designed to transform their abusive behaviors
to nonviolent ones.
Beit Noam residents are the “hard core” of violent behavior in Israel, representing age groups from
18 to 70. They reflect a cross-section of Israeli society and cut across the educational and economic
spectrum to include all religious and ethnic divides: Jews, Arabs, Orthodox, and non-observing. The
Beit Noam therapeutic rationale is based on:
Creating a structure that simulates a home atmosphere. The therapeutic work transmits
experience in running and participating in equal household rights and obligations. The
household is run cooperatively by the residents, requiring them to share tasks, co-exist with
the other residents, and exert mutual effort to resolve conflicts in a non-violent way
Using a combination of dynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques. The therapists view
violent behavior as a result of emotional blocks and navigate the residents through a multi-
level process that leads to their taking responsibility for their violent actions, understanding
the consequences thereof, and creating alternative communication means, i.e., assertiveness
and honesty.123
4. Enabling Legal and Policy Environments Using Information Technologies (Democratic
Republic of the Congo)
New digital technologies are offering new tools to prevent and respond to VAW and
GBV. Technologies have improved women’s access to information and services. For
example, Physicians for Human Rights launched MediCapt, a mobile application that clinicians
in Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Health care providers can use MediCapt
to compile medical evidence, photograph survivors’ injuries, and securely transmit the data to
police, lawyers, and judges involved in prosecuting sexual violence crimes. 124
A further example of how access to legal aid empowers individuals and communities promoting
the protection of human rights is illustrated in the example below.
123 Source: https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/israel/1997/beit-noam-residential-treatment-
center-for-perpetrators-of-domestic-violence
124 MediCapt - Physicians for Human Rights (phr.org)
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Scope, Programming, Gaps and Entry Points
Digital Case Filing System to Facilitate Information Exchange in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
In Eastern DRC, for a majority of reported SGBV cases, by the time police reaches the scene, significant
evidence has been lost or destroyed. Furthermore, cases that are investigated are rarely shared with
the prosecutor’s office in Goma due to insufficient coordination. These challenges lead to infrequent
prosecutions and feed a culture of impunity whereby perpetrators are led to believe that they will not
be held accountable.
To address the communications and collaboration breakdowns that hamper the investigation and
prosecution of SGBV cases in eastern DRC, the Rule of Law Initiative of the American Bar Association
partnered with the prosecutor’s office and the special police force dedicated to women and children
to implement an innovative digital case filing system. The digital case filing system enhances police-
prosecution collaboration, provides logistical transportation support and enables investigating officers
to communicate with prosecutors from the crime scene in real-time through an SMS-based case filing
application.
Since October 2013, the SMS case filing system has facilitated the work between prosecutors in North
Kivu (Masisi, Walikale and Kasaï Oriental) and police officers, resulting in more of these cases being
heard in courts. This work is part of a larger initiative that seeks to enhance local capacity to improve
access to justice for victims of SGBV in eastern DRC, including legal education campaigns, psychological
and medical assistance clusters, and legal aid clinics.125
5. Maximizing Resources for Gender Equality and the Rights of Women and Children (Timor-
Leste)
Some countries have attempted to cost a package of essential support services to prevent
and respond to violence against women, which gives us some understanding of the scale of
investment required. The following example from Timor-Leste describes one approach to
assessing the costs of comprehensive GBV prevention efforts as a fraction of total GDP.
Counting the Costs: Timor-Leste126
Lao PDR and Timor-Leste both experience widespread violence. Prevalence rates in Timor-Leste
are higher than global averages as nearly 59 percent of women report that they have experienced
physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate or non-intimate partner since the age of 15, and just
over 46 percent in the past 12 months (UNFPA, 2017, p.2). In Lao PDR, a 2015 national study of 3,000
women reported that almost one in three women have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional
abuse by a partner (Duvvury et al., 2016, p.6). Yet the costs of intervention are relatively low. In Lao
PDR, the cost to establish and operate a package of such services over a three-year timeframe is
estimated at US$13.5 million, or 0.25 percent of GDP; in Timor-Leste, this package of services would
cost approximately US$6 million over a three-year period or 0.31 percent of GDP. In the latter, this is
less than 0.5 percent of the national budget based on current service utilization and just 1.9 percent
of the combined budgets of the ministries tasked with providing these services (Duvvury et al., 2016,
p.13).
125 Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global
Study on Legal Aid Global Report, p. 162. United Nations, October 2016 https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-
prison-reform/LegalAid/Global_Study_on_Legal_Aid_-_FINAL.pdf.
126 Zainab Ibrahim, Jayanthi KuruUtumpala, and Jay Goulden (nd). Counting The Cost: The Price Society Pays for Violence
Against Women. CARE International Secretariat, Geneva Switzerland. https://www.care-international.org/files/files/
Counting_the_costofViolence.pdf.
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