District councils in Mara region have been directed to formulate strategies of empowering women and children as a deterrent to eliminating acts of gender-based violence (GBV).
"We as a region, we must be the pillar of fighting acts of violence against women and children; and we shall fight this by empowering women in getting the 10 per cent loans from the district councils and other opportunities of improving their economy", Mara Regional Administrative Secretary, Gerald Kusaya, said on in Musoma on Monday.
He gave the directive when launching a strategic plan supported by the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and a non-governmental organisation, WiLDAF Tanzania, which champions womens rights.
He said women groups in Mara region have been in the forefront in timely loan recovery, and therefore, it was upon the government to continue empowering them to improve their economies at family level.
Kusaya also directed the district councils to build safe homes for children facing challenges of harassment, particularly those forced to flee their families to avoid undergoing the out-dated custom of female genital mutilation.
Mara Regional Social Welfare Officer, Neema Ibamba, said the strategic plan against GBV would be a vital tool for government stakeholders in the battle against violence to women and children.
He urged participants who attended the plans inaugural ceremony to spread the educational awareness campaign to the society. Participants included officials from the Mara Regional Secretariat, district councils, religious leaders, non-governmental organisations and representatives of political parties.
Speaking at the same occasion, Jesca Msamba, a principal social welfare officer from Bunda District Council, said she was happy to see government efforts in eliminating violence against women and children in the country.
For his part, a teacher from Nyarigamba A Primary School, Deogratias Mungure, said the society needs comprehensive education on the hazards of gender violence.
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