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We`ll root out child abuse, says Zanzibar minister
2005-07-08 08:06:03
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
The government has intensified the battle to obliterate child abuse, the Minister for Youth, Labour and Children/Women Development Samia Suluhu Hassan told the Zanzibar House of Representatives on Wednesday.
’’We are working hard to tackle children’s problems including rape,’’ Samia said as she presented her ministry 2005/6 budget estimates.
She said about 232 child abuse cases were recorded by her ministry in the year 2004/5.
She named the cases as (number in bracket): Rape (36), unplanned pregnancies (11) and lack of parental care (109).
She added other children were found to be living in difficult and adverse environmens.
The minister said her ministry managed to acquire job for about 436 youths in the private sector.
She said the government, in the ended financial year managed to control foreigners seeking jobs in the isles.
’’In the year 2004/5 only 555 foreigners were given work permits in Zanzibar,’’ she said.
Shadow Minister for Youth, Labour and Women/Children Development Mwana Masoud Ali (CUF) said there was need to intensify the fight for child and women rights.
’’No stone should be left unturned in the fight for women and children rights. Let us work together,’’ she said.
She said while children the rising numbers of child abuse cases was parallel to rising divorce cases.
Masoud told the government it was not doing enough in addressing unemployment problem.
’’Getting job for about 436 youths in a year is not impressive considering the massive numbers of the unemployed youths,’’ she said.
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