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| Waziri wa Maendeleo ya Jamii, Jinsia na Watoto, Mheshimiwa Sophia Simba akiwa na balozi wa uingereza nchini tanzania Mrs DIANA MALROSE pamoja na naibu waziri wa wizara hiyo wakionyesha mkataba waliosaini katika kushirikiana kutokomeza vitendo vya ukeketaji na ndoa za utotoni nchini tanzania |
Waziri wa Maendeleo Jinsia na watoto Mh SOPHIA SIMBA
amesema kuwa serikali ya Tanzania itapambana kufa na kupona kutokomeza vitendo
vya kikatili dhidi ya watoto wa kike nchini ikiwemo ukeketaji na ndoa za
utotoni kwani zimeendelea kushamiri katika maeneo mengi nchini Tanzania.
Waziri samba ameyasema hayo leo wakati serikali ya Tanzania
kupitia wizara yake ikisaini makubaliano na serikali ya uingereza katika
kupambana na ukatili wa ukeketaji nchini Tanzania ambapo amesema kuwa serikali
ya Tanzania imejipanga kushirikiana na serikali ya uingereza kwa udi na uvumba
kuhakikisha kuwa wanatokomeza vitendo hivyo.
Amesema kuwa ni wakati wa Tanzania na wadau wote
kuamka na kuhakikisha wanatokomeza vitendo hivyo vya kikatili dhidi ya watoto a
kike.
Today as part of the 2015 Zero Tolerance of FGM Day Commemoration, the Government of Tanzania signs the Girl Summit Charter that calls for the intensified effort to end FGM and child marriage.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10 February 2015
The Minister of Community
Development, Gender and Children Honorable Sophia Simba has today signed the Girl Summit Charter on
behalf of the Government of Tanzania. The signing by the
Minister was supported by the British High Commissioner to Tanzania
Ms. Dianna Melrose and
the UNFPA Representative Dr. Natalia Kanem. The event took take place at the Ministry of
Community Development, Gender and Children (MCDGC) at 10am.
The
event by the MCDGC comes following the June 2014 Girl Summit held in London, as
well as much national effort to end FGM and child marriage. Notably the
National FGM Forum held 6 and 7 February 2015 in Singida by MCDGC, TAMWA and
UNFPA, as well as the launch of the national campaign against child marriage
entitled Child Marriage-Free Zone in August 2014. Both the events have
highlighted that ending child marriage and FGM are national priorities.
During
the signing Minister Sophia Simba
emphasized that, "the government
of the United Republic of Tanzania is fully committed to ensure that FGM comes
to an end so that our girls can enjoy their happy life free from lifelong
psychological and health stress which the cut girls endure. Also as a country,
we will ensure that no girl will be married before eighteen especially after
our new 2014 proposed constitution is approved and all discriminatory laws are
repealed. I urge all ministries and agencies, CSOs and other stakeholders
including politicians to make ending FGM and child marriage their priority
agenda".
Tanzania
has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world; almost two
out of five Tanzanian girls will be married before their 18th birthday. While
2014 saw the first public declarations against FGM in Mara region, the practice
continues there and notably in Manyara, Arusha, Dodoma and Singida. This
high-level signing event is expected to further stimulate structured
collaboration for better results for adolescent girls and particularly, a
sustained and comprehensive advocacy around the issue of child marriage.
Speaking
at the signing event, Dr. Natalia Kanem the UNFPA Representative noted that: “The
momentum is building! We already have so much
evidence of the fact that the public opinion in Tanzania is against child
marriage, and FGM is against the law. The young women and men in Tanzania are counting
on future leaders to bravely stand up for what is right. With strong leadership
eradicating the practices can be achieved in just a short few years.”
As per UN Secretary General: “Empowering
girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and
violence they face are essential to progress for the whole human family.”
British
High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ms. Dianna Melrose, welcomed the signing as a
signal of strong commitment to ending FGM and child marriage. Speaking at
the signing, Ms. Melrose noted that: “Child marriage and FGM limit girls’ ability to fulfil their
potential, to finish school, lead healthy lives and contribute as equal
partners in Tanzania’s development. The Girl Summit has achieved
unprecedented levels public engagement and support to end child marriage and
FGM, it is great to see Tanzania adding its voice to these efforts and
reinforcing the message that FGM and child marriage are not acceptable in any
part of this country. Working together we can bring an end to these
practices and ensure that all Tanzanian girls are able to fulfil their full
potential free from violence.”
British
High Commissioner’s Statement on Tanzania signing the Girl Summit Charter 10
February 2015
It’s a pleasure to be here to witness Hon
Minister Sophia Simba signing the Girl Summit Charter.
Congratulate
Tanzanian Government on showing commitment to ending Female Genital Mutilation
and Child, Early and Forced Marriage by signing the Charter.
The
UK has put girls and women at the heart of international development, and we
are working across government departments to empower women and girls.
Child
marriage and FGM are human rights abuses, violence against women and girls, and
some of the most extreme manifestations of gender inequality that we see both
here in Tanzania and widely across the world today.
They
limit girls’ ability to fulfil their potential, to finish school, live a
healthy life and contribute as equal partners in Tanzania’s development.
Countries
that enable all girls to complete their education are the ones that succeed
best in reducing poverty.
The
Girl Summit was hosted by Prime Minister David Cameron in London last July
(2014), with strong support from our UN partners, UNICEF and UNFPA, whose
representative is here today.
The Girl Summit achieved unprecedented levels of public engagement and
support to end child marriage and FGM.
Governments from around the world have signed the Charter and made
commitments to act and ensure that we see an end to these harmful
practices.
It is great to see Tanzania adding its voice to these efforts and
reinforcing the message that child marriage and FGM are not acceptable in any
part of this country.
It
will not be easy, and there is a lot of work to do.
The
Girl Summit in London brought together community leaders, faith groups, youth,
international organisations, the private sector and national governments to
build a coalition for change.
The
same can happen here, and has already begun through the Government of Tanzania
and UNFPA National Ending Child Marriage Campaign.
Working
together we can bring an end to these practices and ensure that all Tanzanian
girls are able to fulfil their full potential free from violence.
It
is a great investment in Tanzania’s future and the wellbeing of all its
citizens.
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