Child Protection
Every five minutes a child dies from violence. Every day, in every country, children are abused, beaten, raped and more. Too often, the abuser is someone the child knows and trusts. They may even work for an organisation that’s meant to help children. A sports club, school, faith institution, aid organisation or peacekeeping force. But these people abuse their power and the child’s trust (keepingchildrensafe).
Child protection is the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides for the protection of children in and out of the home.
The United Republic of Tanzania ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, committing the Government to undertaking all necessary steps — legislative, administrative and other measures — to implement the rights pledged in it. This commitment includes the obligation to ensure protection of all children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. The Convention was incorporated into Tanzanian law with passage of the Law of the Child Act in 2009. However, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, including child trafficking and child labor, are still the reality for large numbers of girls and boys in Tanzania.
A report on violence against children in Tanzania found that nearly one in three girls and one in seven boys experience some form of sexual violence before turning 18. Most do not report their experience, few seek services and even fewer receive any care, treatment or support. Rates of physical and emotional violence are high; almost three quarters of girls and boys experience some form of physical violence while emotional violence affects approximately one quarter of boys and girls.
In response to these findings the Government has taken a number of strategic steps towards creating an enabling environment for child protection, as evidenced in implementation of commitments across sectors at national and local levels. Districts, wards and villages have been engaged in building a system of care and protection services for children.
Education is a basic human right and an important driver of social and economic development. Access to education is undoubtedly a critical factor in the socio-economic advancement of girls and young women. Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school. It is also about ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in school. However, more than 41,000 girls under the age of 18 marry every day and putting an end to the practice would increase women’s expected educational attainment, and with it, their potential earnings. Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure, violence, and fragility (WBG).
Adolescent girls in Tanzania are least likely to receive a secondary education. Researchers estimates that two out of every five girls in Tanzania marry before the age of 18. Within the population of married, secondary-school age girls, 97 percent are not in school due to marriage or pregnancy. Government policies also discriminate against pregnant and married girls by authorizing schools to expel them. Tanzania’s education regulations permit the expulsion of students when a student has committed what it considers an offense against morality. Many girls in Tanzania yearn to go back to school but encounter discriminating barriers like repeatedly contacting the school headmaster with no response. In addition, they must pay an $18-23 re-entry fee after pregnancy which ultimately deters them from returning.
Responding to the child safeguarding, Maasai Girls Initiatiatives for Development-MGI4D established a network of Girls/Health Clubs and piloting child protection in some participating schools. The ultimate objective of Health Clubs and Child protection pilot is to reduce the frequency of school related gender based violence (SRGBV) and increase the application of “life skills” to enable students to make informed choices to protect themselves against violence, pregnancy, STIs, and HIV. It also aims to increase the capacity of schools and communities to prevent SRGBV and respond to its harmful effects. The MGI4D will promote a “whole school approach” in which students, teachers, school leaders, parents, community members, and local government authorities acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to create a safer environment for learning and healthy and responsible living among students. We have also trained our community champions on child and adult safeguarding so that they could be able to deal with child protection case management on day to day basis
Responding to the child safeguarding, Maasai Girls Initiatiatives for Development-MGI4D established a network of Girls/Health Clubs and piloting child protection in some participating schools. The ultimate objective of Health Clubs and Child protection pilot is to reduce the frequency of school related gender based violence (SRGBV) and increase the application of “life skills” to enable students to make informed choices to protect themselves against violence, pregnancy, STIs, and HIV. It also aims to increase the capacity of schools and communities to prevent SRGBV and respond to its harmful effects. The MGI4D will promote a “whole school approach” in which students, teachers, school leaders, parents, community members, and local government authorities acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to create a safer environment for learning and healthy and responsible living among students. We have also trained our community champions on child and adult safeguarding so that they could be able to deal with child protection case management on day to day basis