Let Us Stop Violence Against Children We Were All Children

Let us Stop Violence Against Children wilsonpastory@gmail.
com
LET US STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST

CHILDREN
WE WERE ALL CHILDREN
“We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the
well-being of our children, which has always been and will
continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of
humankind” Kofi Annan.
This article has been written by WILSON PASTORY.
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Let us Stop Violence Against Children wilsonpastory@gmail.com
Preamble
We live in a world where Children from all walks of life endure violence, and millions more are
at risk. We adults at sometimes in our childhood we also experienced violence, as a matter of
fact, I (the writer) also experienced some kinds of violence when I was in primary School.
For nearly two decades now, I have been witnessing intolerable violence against children, often
in rural areas where children rights are not observed, and there is absence of organizations that
fight for children rights, dignity, and welfare.
A certain number of reports have been written showing how violence against children has been a
problem in Tanzania for many years; media also have been reporting a number of cases
concerning the issue from all parts of the country.
This short article is designed to provide Tanzanians with a clear understanding of how violence
against children occurs, because it might be some people are abusing children with an excuse of
being unaware of what do violence against children really mean.
It tells why children are abused and why violence is used against them in many parts of the
country, what forms of violence they face and in what contexts. It also inspires a real change by
alerting the organs responsible for child protection to wake up and take measures to bring an end
to all kinds of violence against children.
If that is not enough, it also provide the Tanzanians with what is inside the Tanzania law of the
Child Act of 2009, particularly Part II which states about rights and welfare of a child. The
purpose is to create awareness among the adults and children in accordance with what should be
done or not done to a child.
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Definition of some Key Concepts as used in this article
Child: A person below the age of eighteen years.
Child Abuse: Contravention of the rights of the child which causes physical, moral or emotional
harm including beatings, insults, discrimination, neglect, sexual abuse and
exploitative labour.
Child Neglect: Failure of a child’s parent or care giver to provide necessary care and means of
sustenance to a child such as food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care etc.
Child Sexual Abuse: Contacts or interactions between a child and an older or more
knowledgeable child or adult
Child Labour: Any work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their
dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
Physical Violence: Physical act of violence such as being slapped, pushed, hit with fist
(punched), kicked, or whipped, or threatened with a weapon such as a gun and knife.
Parent: A biological father or mother, the adoptive father or mother and any other person under
whose care a child has been committed.
Female Genital Mutilation: all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external
female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Orphan: any person who lost one or both parents before the age of 18.
Psychological Abuse: Verbal and non-verbal emotional abuse, which may be active or passive.
This describes actions intended to inflict mental pain, anguish or distress on a person.
Sexual Violence: Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or acts to traffic for sexual
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purposes, directed against a child (person) using coercion, and unwanted sexual
comments, harassment or advances made by any person regardless of their
relationship to the survivor/victim.
Violence against Children: Is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or
actual, against a child, by an individual or group that either results in or has a high
likelihood of resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival,
development or dignity.
Street children: a term for children experiencing poverty (homelessness) who are living on the
streets of a city, town, or village.
Dala dala: a minibus used to facilitate public transport in a city or town. It is often overcrowded
and mostly used by ordinary people
Unyago: rituals practiced to celebrate the coming of age of girls or during weddings in which
older women teach the young ones about sex and conjugal life
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Have you heard about Tanzania Law of the Child Act of 2009? What about the rights and
welfare of a child?, Now before going into details on Violence against Children, let us have a
look on the rights and welfare of a child as written in the Law of the Child Act of 2009.
PART II
RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF A CHILD
(a) Right of a child
Construction 4.-( 1) A person below the age of eighteen years shall be known as a child.
of “the child” (2) The best interest of a child shall be the primary consideration in all actions
concerning a child whether undertaken by public or private social welfare
institutions, courts or administrative bodies.
Non- 5.-(1) A child shall have a right to live free from any discrimination.
discrimination (2) A person shall not discriminate against a child on the grounds of gender,
race, age, religion, language, political opinion, disability, health status,
custom, ethnic origin, rural or urban background, birth, socio-economic
status, being a refugee or of other status.
Right to name 6.-( 1) A child shall have a right to a name, nationality and to know his
and biological parents and extended family.
nationality (2) A person shall not deprive a child of the right to a name, nationality
and to know his biological parents and members of extended family subject
to the provisions of any other written laws.
(3) Each parent or guardian shall be responsible for the registration of the
birth of his child to the Registrar-General.
Right to grow 7.-(1) A child shall be entitled to live with his parents or guardians.
up with (2) A person shall not deny a child the right to live with his parents,
parents guardian or family and to grow up in a caring and peaceful environment
unless it is decided by the court that living with his parents or family shall -
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(a) lead a significant harm to the child;

(b) subject the child to serious abuse; or
(c) not be in the best interest of the child.
(3) Subject to the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), where a competent
authority or a court determines in accordance with the laws and
procedures applicable that it is in the best interests of the child to separate
him from his parent, the best substitute care available shall be provided for
the child.
Duty to 8.-( 1)It shall be the duty of a parent, guardian or any other person having custody
maintain a of a child to maintain that child in particular that child duty gives the child
child the right to -
(a) food;
(b) shelter;
(c) clothing;
(d) medical care including immunization;
(e) education and guidance;
(f) liberty; and
(g) right to play and leisure.
(2) A person shall not deprive a child access to education, immunisation, food,
clothing, shelter, health and medical care or any other thing required for his
development.
(3) A person shall not deny a child medical care by reason of religious or other
beliefs.
(4) A person shall not deprive a child the right to participate in sports, or in
positive cultural and artistic activities or other leisure activities unless in
the opinion of the parent, guardian or relative such participation or
activity is not in the best interest of the child.
(5) A person shall not treat a child with disabilities in an undignified
manner.
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(6) A child with disabilities shall be entitled to special care, treatment,

affordable facilities for his rehabilitation and equal opportunities to
education and training wherever possible to develop his maximum
potential and be self-reliance.
Parental duty 9.-(1) A child shall have the right to life, dignity, respect, leisure, liberty, health,
and education and shelter from his parents.
responsibility (2) The right to leasure and liberty by the child shall be subject to guidance
and ability of a parent, guardian or relative.
(3) Every parent shall have duties and responsibilities whether imposed by
law or otherwise towards his child which include the duty to-
(a) protect the child from neglect, discrimination, violence, abuse,
exposure to physical and moral hazards and oppression;
(b) provide guidance, care, assistance and maintenance for the
child and assurance of the child's survival and development;
(c) ensure that in the temporary absence of a parent, the child shall
be cared for by a competent person, except where the parent
has surrendered his rights and responsibilities in accordance
with a written law or any traditional or customary arrangement.
(4) 'Where biological parents of a child are deceased, parental responsibility
may be passed on to a relative of either parent or a custodian by way of
court order or any traditional arrangement.
Right to parental 10. A person shall not deprive a child of reasonable enjoyment out of the estate
property of a parent.
Right of 11. A child shall have a right of opinion and no person shall deprive a child
opinion capable of forming views the right to express an opinion, to be listened to
and to participate in decisions which affect his well-being.
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Harmful 12. A person shall not employ or engage a child in any activity that may be
employment harmful to his health, education, mental, physical or moral development.
Protection 13.-(1) A person shall not subject a child to torture, or other cruel, inhuman
from torture punishment or degrading treatment including any cultural practice which
and degrading dehumanizes or is injurious to the physical and mental well-being of a
treatment child.
(2) No correction of a child is justifiable which is unreasonable in kind
or in degree according to the age, physical and mental condition of
the child and no correction is justifiable if the child is by reason of
tender age or otherwise incapable of understanding the purpose of
the correction.
(3) The term "degrading treatment" as used in this section means an
act done to a child with the intention of humiliating or lowering
his dignity.
Penalty for 14. A person who contravenes any provision of this Part, commits an offence
contravention and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five million
shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.
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Violence Against Children

Violence against children is a human rights violation, as the United Nations Convention on the
Rights of the Child confirms in Article 19. It is widespread and socially accepted in many parts
of the country. It takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional (psychological),
cultural, and neglect.
In Tanzania, violence occurs in many settings, including the home, school, market, daladala
(bus) stations, and over the Internet (social media). The perpetrators of violence against children
include: family members, adult relatives, neighbours, intimate partners, teachers, strangers, and
other children.
An experience of violence can lead to lasting physical, mental, emotional harm, and even kills,
whether the child is a direct victim or a witness. Children who are exposed to violence are more
likely to suffer from attachment problems, regressive behavior, anxiety, and depression, and to
have aggression and conduct problems.
Physical Violence
Physical violence refers to the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing
death, disability, injury, or harm to a child. In Tanzania, Physical violence against children
includes, but is not limited to, scratching, pushing, shoving, throwing, grabbing, beating, hitting,
biting, choking, shaking, slapping, punching, kicking, pinching, hair-pulling, or burning.
The most common perpetrators of the physical violence are the adult relatives, parents, teachers,
and strangers. One thing to be noted here is that, Physical abuse may involve more than one
abuser, and more than one victim, and is frequent at home and school.
Physically abused children are at risk for later interpersonal problems involving aggressive
behavior, and adolescents are at a much greater risk for substance abuse. In addition, symptoms
of depression, emotional distress, and suicidal ideation are also common features of children who
have been physically abused.
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A child who was physically abused by his step father
Scars on her back after badly being beaten up

(source: http://songeahabari.blogspot.com/2012/07/mtoto-achapwa-viboko-na-baba-wa-
kambo.html)
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Sexual Violence
Sexual violence occurs when a child is forced to unwillingly take part in sexual activity. Sexual
violence includes, but is not limited to: kissing, grabbing, fondling, beating sexual parts of the
body, forcing a child to view pornographic material, and making unwelcome sexual comments or
jokes. Children also face Coerced sex that involves forcing a child girl to have sex against her
will using tricks, pressure, or deception.
Sexual violence occurs in a home place, on school grounds, in a bush, river, in a daladala (bus),
and in public buildings such as business or bar. Tanzanian girls also experience sexual assaults
when they are in their way to or from school. Most of sexual assaults occur in a daytime (from
morning to evening) and very few during the midnight.
Sexual violence is very common to Tanzanian girls, and often for orphaned girls. The
perpetrators include: teachers, strangers, dating partners, a father (mostly a step father), and
relatives most cases an uncle or a cousin. Although the attackers are often known to the victim,
they are not reported because they use to make threats to the children if they dare to report an
incident.
About two years ago, secondary school teachers from a certain school in Mbeya region were
reported trying to abuse sexually a form four student by beating her and touching the secret parts
of her body. You know this is something strange, a teacher trusted by the ministry of education
to take care of a child (student) both academically and socially denying that care to a particular
child, and leading in violation of the child’s right! This is intolerable!
This scenario gives a clear picture of what some immoral teachers are doing to our children. And
the most affected are the female students in what we call mixture school both in the rural and
urban areas. We Tanzanians let us now wake up and say no to sexual abuse against children. We
have the power to prevent and end it.
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A 17 years old girl at hospital after been badly beaten and sexually abused by her
secondary school teachers
(Source: http://ndgshilatu.blogspot.com/2016/07/walimu-wamvua-nguo-binti-mwanafunzi-
wa.html)
It is our duty and responsibility to ensure our girls are free from sexual abuse simply because it is
associated with a lot of problems to a victim including: anxiety, sleep disorders, eating disorders,
substance abuse, suicide, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and difficulty trusting peers
in the context of relationships.
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Emotional (Psychological) Violence
Emotional violence can be referred as any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault,
humiliation, intimidation, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of children’s
identity, dignity, and self-worth.
Emotional violence against children occurs when someone says or does something to make a
child feel stupid or worthless. It includes, but not limited to: name calling or insults, not allowing
a child to have contact with other children by hiding him or her due to physical impairments,
intimidating a child; causing fear to gain control, threatening to hurt if a child does not cooperate,
lying.
A child who was hidden under the bed for several years by his mother in Morogoro region
(Source: http://www.mwananchi.co.tz/habari/Kitaifa/UKATILI--Mtoto-afichwa-uvunguni-
Morogoro/1597296-2381378-3limkxz/index.html)
As we can see what happened to the child is a form of confinement as he was forced to stay
under the bed by his mother without his consent. This is not only an emotional abuse, but also a
physical abuse as it has resulted to the undernourished of the child.
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Children who were hidden in the house for almost ten months by their father in Kigoma
region
(Source: https://kigomalive.wordpress.com/2014/09/07/watoto-wafanyiwa-ukatili-na-baba-yao-
mzaziawafungia-ndani-kwa-miezi-10/).
Proving to us this is a new form of kidnapping that has persisted in Tanzania, the same scenario
as we can see on the photo above occurred in Kigoma region where a father hidden his children
in the house for almost ten months. Apart from being an emotional abuse, this kind of abuse can
also be a physical abuse.
Children who suffer from emotional abuse tend to have very low self-esteem, show personality
changes (such as becoming withdrawn) and may even become depressed, anxious or suicidal. As
people who care about the child protection, we have the responsibility of telling the adults to stop
this kind of violence simply because the victims are also human beings with rights.
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Cultural Violence
Cultural Violence may be referred to any practices whether legal or illegal that is part of a certain
community’s culture, religion or tradition, which results to the physical harm or death to a child.
In Tanzania cultural violence includes, but is not limited to: Female Genital Mutilation (female
circumcision), and child marriage.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation may refer to all procedures involving the partial or total removal of
the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Female Genital Mutilation is very common in pastoral communities found in the lake zone
particularly in Mara region, and in some places in Manyara and Arusha regions. It is done with
an excuse of following a certain tribe’s culture.
Some girls on their way to home after being circumcised

(Source: http://lukwangule.blogspot.com/2016/12/suala-la-ukeketaji-mkoani-mara-bado-ni.html)
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The Kurya people (tribe) from Tarime and Rorya districts in Mara region are the common
perpetrators of Female Genital Mutilation. The older women called „ngaribas‟ the cutters are the
ones who do circumcision to the younger girls after receiving all the blessings from the clan
leaders.
Child Marriage
Any marriage that involves a child before the age of 18 can be termed as Child marriage. Child
marriage is almost entrenched in all regions in Tanzania due to the poverty factor. The situation
is terrible in the farming and animal keeping communities including: Shinyanga, Singida,
Tabora, Simiyu, Dodoma and Mara regions.
Tanzania named among top 10 countries leading for child marriage
(Source: http://dewjiblog.co.tz/tanzania-yatajwa-katika-orodha-ya-nchi-10-zinazoongoza-kwa-
ndoa-za-utotoni/)
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In the recent report by London-based organization, called Girls Not Bride, named Tanzania the
10th country with a large number of teenage marriages, where India occupied the first position
followed by Bangladesh and Nigeria.
At the national level, the recent reports named Shinyanga as the leading region for child
marriage. Factors like lack of education opportunities to girls and extreme poverty are among the
reasons that are perceived to contribute to the child marriages in the region.
A Pregnant girl below the age of 18
(Source: http://kidotionline.co.tz/index.php/2018/01/28/shinyanga-inaongoza-ndoa-za-utotoni-
kwa-asilimia-59/ )
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Secrecy has been a problem in waging war against child marriage. Many incidences are often not
reported or remain hidden simply because it involves family members or very close relatives
who always come into agreement with the bridegrooms.
A woman with two daughters who both get married under the age of 17
(Source: http://www.mwananchi.co.tz/habari/Usiri-unavyokwamisha-vita-dhidi-ya-ndoa-za-
utotoni-Bahi/1597578-4100698-1342386/index.html)
We should all know that child marriage often compromises a girl’s development by resulting in
early pregnancy and social isolation, interrupting her schooling, limiting her opportunities for
career and vocational advancement and placing her at increased risk of domestic violence. It is
our duty to end this kind of violence, these girls have also their plans and dreams to be fulfilled;
impregnating them and forcing marriage at early ages is denying their opportunity to reach their
destination.
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Neglect
Neglect is another form of Children violence that is common in Tanzania. It occurs when
someone has the responsibility to provide care or assistance for a child but does not. Many
Tanzanian children do not get education and medication from the people who are responsible to
provide for them. Children are wandering in the streets begging or doing petty business but no
one cares.
In Tanzania neglect includes, but is not limited to: failing to meet the needs of a child who is
unable to meet those needs alone, abandonment in public setting, failing to provide clean clothes
to a child, failing to provide dietary requirements, and failing to provide social companionship to
a child.
Some of the children who were arrested for escaping school in Arusha city
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About 100 children were arrested for escaping school and selling water, ice cream and carrying
cargo in various markets in Arusha city. These children represent many other Tanzania children
who are denied their right to education by being forced to stay at home and work, either for
money or in support of family development.
Street children in Dar es Salaam City begging money from passengers who are in a dalaldala
(Source: https://issamichuzi.blogspot.com/2012/02/kifanyike-kitu-gani-kuwasaidia-watoto.html)
Because of family conflict or death that has taken the lives of their beloved parents, these
children have come to live on the streets and take on the full responsibilities of caring for
themselves, including working to provide for and protecting themselves. Abandoning them in
particular situation is endangering their lives; they also need care like other children. They need
to be loved and cherished. Let us show love to them, please!
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What should be done to stop or prevent violence against children?

Violence against children is never right, and if we are really serious, all violence against children
can be prevented. Here are some of the measures and strategies that we can take to stop violence
against children:
 Institutions and organisations such as Save the Children, Children’s Dignity Forum
(CDF), UNICEF Tanzania, Pact Tanzania, World Vision, HakiElimu, just to mention a
few, that deals with children welfare should work in partnership so as to reach many
communities in the country.
 Education on the effects of Female Genital Mutilation and Child marriage should be
given to traditional and community leaders by engaging in consultations and discussion
sessions.
 Engaging the media in raising awareness to the community about children protection.
 Enforcement of the law on harmful tradition practices like child marriage, and female
genital mutilation.
 The government should create mechanisms for involving children in decision making that
affects them at local level.
 Children protection should not be perceived as the responsibility of the household only,
rather as of the whole community.
 Children agenda should be given priority by the politicians who are the leaders simply
because are the ones who supervise almost everything in the nation.
 The government should work to change perceptions that violence is socially acceptable.
 Teachers should know that, students (children) are also human beings not animals, so
they need to be treated as human beings not animals.
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 Parents aware of child rights should also teach their children about their rights, and play a
role in stopping acts of violence against children by the society.
 If a parent see other parents violates a child right, he or she should advise other parents to
stop.
 Parents should be advised to stop following norms and customs that are harmful to
children.
 The government leaders should pay attention to addressing violence against children.
 Local government leaders in partnership with NGOs responsible for children protection
should organize public meetings and campaigns opposing violence against children.
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References
CDF (2017). National Survey on the Drivers and Consequences of Child Marriage in Tanzania
www.cdftz.org/files/Forward%20230%20Page%20Report%202017%20WEB.pdf
MoHCDGEC (2016). National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children in
Tanzania 2017/18 – 2021/22.
www.mcdgc.go.tz/data/NPA_VAWC.pdf
Save the children (2016). Every Last Child: The Children the World Chooses to Forget. London:
The Save the Children Fund 2016.
World Vision (2005). What is Violence? Perspectives from Children in Tanzania:

A Contribution to the United Nations study on Violence Against Children.
World Vision International
www.tzonline.org/pdf/whatisviolenceperspectivesfromchildrenintanzania.pdf
United Nations, Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly on 20 November 1989, entered into force in September 1990.
The Tanzania Law of the Child Act, 2009.
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Let us Stop Violence Against Children wilsonpastory@gmail.

LET US STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST

This article has been written by WILSON PASTORY.

Definition of some Key Concepts as used in this article

Child: A person below the age of eighteen years.

(a) lead a significant harm to the child;

(6) A child with disabilities shall be entitled to special care, treatment,

Violence Against Children

A child who was physically abused by his step father

Scars on her back after badly being beaten up

Emotional (Psychological) Violence

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Some girls on their way to home after being circumcised

Tanzania named among top 10 countries leading for child marriage

A Pregnant girl below the age of 18

What should be done to stop or prevent violence against children?

World Vision (2005). What is Violence? Perspectives from Children in Tanzania:

The Tanzania Law of the Child Act, 2009.

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