VIOLENCE against women and girls isn’t only a violation of human rights but also a major barrier to sustainable development, a key diplomat has stated.

Christine Grau, the European Union resident ambassador, made this observation at a panel discussion organised by UN Women in Dar es Salaam over the weekend as part of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

She highlighted the importance of the government’s national action plan to end violence against women and children, acknowledging that progress had been made but much work remains to be done.

“Despite the efforts being made, we are constantly reminded that the fight against gender-based violence is ongoing and requires collaboration, commitment and innovation,” she stated.

“No one should face violence due to their gender, age or status. We cannot achieve sustainable and inclusive growth if we do not take bold steps to address gender-based violence,” she said.

Development partners’ commitment to supporting initiatives that prevent, respond to gender-based violence help to ensure that the global commitment to a violence-free world by 2030 becomes a reality, not just a distant hope, she specified.

Susan Ngongi, the resident coordinator of United Nations agencies, similarly pointed at the severity of gender-based violence, as it durably affects the health, dignity, safety and freedom of victims. 

The violence is a violation of human rights and a significant obstacle to achieving gender equality and sustainable development, she said, asserting that one-third of women and girls over the age of 15 in Tanzania report experiencing physical, sexual, emotional or economic abuse.

Women and children with disabilities face even greater challenges, including social discrimination, limited access to support services and systemic marginalization, deepening the personal and social crisis that requires urgent, collective action, she emphasised.

Amon Mpanju, the Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups deputy permanent secretary, noted that eradicating violence requires a comprehensive approach, starting with education and societal norms at the family level. 

“No development can occur in an environment where violence persists, particularly within families. Responsibility must be taken at the community level to address what the government is doing to combat violence,” he said.

Godlizan Bakari, an analyst at UN Women, concluded the discussion by highlighting Tanzania's commitment to addressing gender-based violence as part of broader regional and global efforts. 

“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate the elimination of violence and make substantial progress toward gender equality,” he stated.

Pointing at the African Union's Convention on the elimination of violence against women and girls, he said the convention seeks to establish a comprehensive legal system to address the root causes of violence.

 It seeks to strengthen legal frameworks and institutions, and promote a culture of respect for human rights, gender equality and the dignity of women and girls throughout Africa, he elaborated.

UN Women was working as part of the broader UN system to advance collective efforts with partners, including the European Union, to support comprehensive programs aimed at eliminating gender-based violence, he said.

“Our vision for 2030 is a world where women and girls live free from violence. This is possible if we work together,” he added.