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Govt declares war against outdated traditional practices
2007-11-27 15:07:31
By Angel Navuri
The Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, Sophia Simba, has said that the government will not tolerate people who condone outdated traditions harmful to children and the society at large.
Speaking at the launch of a 16-day activism against gender violence, Simba said serious action will be taken against those who condone such traditions.
``The government will ensure that traditional cultures that bring harm to the society and children are abolished once and for all,`` she said.
Simba said people have to unite and form strategies that will bring about a better solution to gender violence.
She said there were a number of regions in the country that have started to abandon some outdated traditional practices by involving religious leaders, traditional leaders and elders who have a say in the communities.
``The system to involve religious and traditional leaders should be introduced countrywide as it will help in taking action against those who practise contrary to the law,`` she said.
She added that the campaign will help to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at local, national, regional and international levels.
``The campaign will also strengthen local work pertaining to violence against women and establish a clear link between local and international work to end such violence,`` she said.
The minister further said that the campaign was a tool which would pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence.
``Cases of gender violence are published daily in the media and this indicates that they are increasing day by day despite having a law against it,`` she said.
The 16-day activism event against gender violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women Global Leadership Institute.
“Gender-based violence and abuse has taken root in the country and our society seems to take it as part and parcel of our life.
A number of human rights organizations have tried to highlight the issue with some degree of success but there is more to be done to change the way society perceives gender based violence and abuse of women and girl child,`` she said.
She added: ``It is against this background that a number of human rights organizations in the country have decided to hold this forum on girls and women’s lives to appeal for concrete changes in laws, policies and cultural practices that contribute to violence against girls and women.``
The occasion was organised by Women in Law and Development in Africa (Tanzania Chapter) in collaboration with Tanzania Media Women`s Association (Tamwa) and Kiota Women’s Health and Development Organisation.
Others were Legal and Human Rights Centre, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme and Tanzania Women Lawyers Association.
Other more co-organisers were Women and Legal Aid Centre; Conservation, Hotels, Domestic and Allied Workers Union (CHODAWU) and FAWE Tanzania.
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