Access to justice and support for victims of sexual and gender based violence

Finland is supporting TAMWA to implement ‘Strengthen Actions on Sexual and Gender Based Violence’ project. A two year project (2020- 2021) has enhanced actions on sexual gender based violence in five districts of Zanzibar with a holistic approach, for example by intensifying evidence generation, engaging actors and media advocacy. Gender equality is an important part of Finland country programme for Tanzania and the rights of women are a key component of overall foreign policy priorities.

Why is holistic approach important for addressing SGBV in Zanzibar?

For years in Zanzibar, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) acts had been committed with impunity. In 2002 for example, TAMWA received a report from the High Court showing 0% convictions against 200 filed cases. At a community level, there was high level of stigma attached to SGBV, fear against repercussion and retribution about reporting the cases. At the same time, there were equally many cases, which were not reported.

At a policy level, there are still laws, which continue to be detrimental and draconian to the lives of women and girls. Inconsistency of laws provide room for lighter punishment while also appealing against case verdicts remains to be a severe challenge. Despite the enactment of policies, plans and laws to address SSGBV, the Government has not yet been willing to address the issue. There is also limited capacities of law enforcement agencies to handle these type of cases. Officials at the law enforcement agencies might delay, deny justice due to various reasons including trivialization of SGBV, corruption, favoritism and affiliations without any consequences. There is no proper database and reporting system, which together with lack of proper mechanisms leaves officials to decide the cases at their discretion.

On the civil society level, one of the main challenges rises from the unorganized women’s movement. Majority of the women’s work still happens in silos and there are not enough efforts taken to agitate for change once a strategic litigation cases are filed and pursued. The movement is equally weakened by the existence of the authoritative officials and religious extremists.

Due to the above reasons, the holistic approach comes in to promote gender transformation which would create massive awareness about the SGBV, encourage reporting of the cases, advocate against oppressive laws/polices, build women movement from the grass root to national level, initiate media campaigns  and hold leaders and perpetrators accountable.

What is the TAMWA holistic approach to address GBV issues?

Build a grass root movement: TAMWA Zanzibar has relied on the grass root movement for gender transformation and social change; these include a hybrid of grass root networks and Young Media Fellows (YMF). The duo are working in complementarity. While the grass root network members create awareness, report cases to the law enforcement agencies, the later report the cases to the media and cover the proceedings of the cases along with their nuisances. 

Engagement with likeminded organizations in joint advocacy: TAMWA works with other likeminded organizations at all levels mainly calling for actions or advocating for policy, practice or legal changes related to SGBV. It has been also conducted studies together and share them widely.

Picture: Among the SGBV families in Pemba being empowered on SGBV and their roles to support their children to provide evidence that may facilitate access to justice (Asna Mshana 2021)

What is the role of the media?

TAMWA has customized messages for each actor inherent in the fight.  For TAMWA media is key and it has been treated as both the means to an end, and an end on itself.  Media has been regularly equipped to understand the SSGBV context and its dynamic. In return, it has been dishing out SSGBV stories from the communities, setting agenda in advocating for changes and even go beyond the traditional work of media by extending formal letters to the authorities.

Picture: News story example (Asna Mshana 2021)

What is the role of the SGBV victims? 

The main role of the victim in TAMWA modus operandi is to report the case and participate in the proliferation of evidence through attending law enforcement sessions and responding to questions succinctly. In TAMWA perspective, victims have also a role in creating massive awareness about the ill acts of SSGBV and calling for actions at the individual, community and institutional levels.

However, in order to exercise that role, victims needs to be protected against re-victimization, reprisals, stigmatization, re-traumatization and discrimination. Guided by its gender background and journalistic principles, TAMWA strives to comply with the international, regional and national standards of victim’s protection. ‘’We ensure that if a victim is minor, we do not reveal their identity or places of their parents. If it is necessary for parents to appear on the screen, he/she is face folded to hide the identity’’. TAMWA equally provides psychosocial support to SGBV victims through counseling and guidance in order to withstand the post exposure effect.  

What has been achieved so far?

• Through working with grass root networks, more cases are reported and perpetrators prosecuted. The network alone reported a total of 345 SGBV cases. They include 97 rape, 54 sodomy, 49 abductions, 62 attempting rape, 33 defamation, 18 indecent assaults and 32 child maintenance. After critical follow-up, 17 cases got legal convictions.
• A total of 379 SGBV stories were published, 205 from mainstream radio and television, 78 print media and 87 social media stories that have been published in various social media platforms including Facebook, twitter and Instagram. The stories have contributed to the heightened debate about the SGBV pandemic.
• Around 100 survivors and 200 families were supported morally and materially to make follow up of cases. To date around 79 children were able to stand in the courts to provided evidence, 17 cases reached remedies equal to 22%, and 20 cases are at the DPP office and 42 at the police stations.

 

Text:

Asna Mshana

Coordinator for Development Cooperation