| One of the participants, Nasanwa Mtafya from Mdabalo Ward, Mufindi District makes a point during the violence against children and gender based violence risks assessment meeting in Mufindi DC and Mafinga Town Council organized by SOS Children's Village Tanzania yesterday 27/06/2018. (Photo by Friday Simbaya) |
Mufindi District Commissioner David William Jamhuri has appealed to the community to take full responsibility of looking after children by providing them with basic needs and rights.
Speaking yesterday during the Violence against Children (VAC) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) risks assessment, mitigation strategy workshop held in Mufindi District, Iringa region, which was organized by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania.
He said it is the moral duty of the parents, guardians and the community to take care of the children to make sure they provide food, shelter, education, clothing and medical care hence promotion child protection.
Jamhuri said by not providing children with such necessities mentioned above is one form of violence against children taking in minds that Mufindi District is one of the districts in the country with bad record of violence against child and gender based violence against women.
“We should not run away from our responsibilities as parents, guardians and community because by so doing we are making the children running away from homes and become streets children,” he noted.
He added that not only child maltreatment which includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse and neglect but also not taking a child to school, not providing health care, not giving food and clothes are part and parcel violence against children.
On his part, Mufindi District Council Social Welfare Officer Nyamara Elisha, said despite of the interventions made by the district council to fight against Child abuse, the incidents of violence against children were increasing.
He said that child abuse may include any act or failure to act by a parent or other caregiver that results in actual or potential harm to a child, and can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with.
Elisha said that there were about 39 incidents of VAC occurred in Mufindi Dictrict Council between March 2017 and July 2018 including rape, child defilement and pregnancies.
He added that by working in collaboration with Para social workers (PSW) and other stakeholders they canhelp people to increase resources and delivery foundational social welfare services at community level.
According to the Acting Program Coordinator for Women Empowerment and Children rights in Mufindi District Victor Mwaipungu from SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania, VAC/GBV risks assessment in Mufindi DC and Mafinga TC was meant to strengthening system of gender based desks at community level.
He said that Gender Desks set up in police stations at community level were for women and children report cases of physical and sexual abuse to specially trained policewomen, as part of the authorities' efforts to tackle gender violence in the country.
Mwaipungu said the assessment risks workshop has brought together law enforcers, professionals, policies’ implementer, ward executive officers, Para-social workers (PSW) and children from Mufindi DC and Mafinga organized by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania. By Friday Simbaya, Mufindi
