Tanzania launches mobile app to help victims report gender-based violence · Global Voices
“Orange the World,” a UN global campaign to end violence against women, hosts a march in Kibondo district, Kigoma region, Tanzania November 28, 2017. Photo via UN Women/Flickr, CC BY ND 2.0.
“Change Begins with Me” is Tanzania's chosen theme for this year's 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The theme was announced by Mr. <PERSON>, the head of the communications unit at the Ministry of Health and Community Development.
<PERSON> explained that “the theme is a call to action for every one of us to take responsibility to end GBV by tackling persistent social norms that devalue women and girls and ensure survivors can access comprehensive support service,” he said.
The annual global campaign supported by the United Nations commenced on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until December 10, which is Human Rights Day. With the color orange being the international symbol for the campaign to end GBV, this year's global theme is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”
“As the world retreated inside homes due to the lockdown measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, reports showed an alarming increase in the already existing pandemic of violence against women,” according to UN Women.
Due to the pandemic, mobility restrictions, information deserts and increased isolation have led to a 30% decrease in reporting sexual and gender-based violence in Tanzania, according to Relief Web.
The Tanzanian-based GBV coalition known as MKUKI kicked off the 16 Days of Activism against GBV by launching an app called Taarifa, or Information, which is a tool that offers information concerning gender-based violence that will also enable victims to report their cases to authorities.
Twitter user <PERSON> explains:
MKUKI <PERSON> GBV taarifa app ambayo Ina lengo la kusaidia mtu kupata taarifa Za Ukatili Wa Kijinsia lakini Zaidi mtu anaweza kutoa ripoti endapo atafanyiwa Ukatili #MabadilikoYanaanzaNaMimi pic.twitter.com/GVwWbbLdGE
— <PERSON> (@VwalaViola) November 25, 2020
MKUKI today launched GBV nation app with the purpose of helping someone get information about GBV but even more so, that person can file a report on their abuse.
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Dr. <PERSON>, the recently reelected deputy speaker of the 12th National Assembly, was the guest of honor at the launch of Taarifa app. The deputy speaker expressed that the app was an important intervention toward the ultimate goal to eliminate all forms of gender-based violence. <PERSON> said she hoped the app would help tackle the stigma that surrounds reporting acts of intimate partner violence, according to the Daily News, a local media site.
“We are all aware that GBV has been prevalent in our society for a very long time, thus various interventions are needed to eliminate it,” said <PERSON>. This mobile app [will] assist many people who are afraid to come out and report such incidents.”
During the 16 Days of Activism, <PERSON> is touring Tanzania to launch the app at various universities in different towns and cities.
Netizens from different universities have been sharing information about <PERSON>'s visit.
Twitter user <PERSON> reported from the town of Njombe:
Njombe
<PERSON> wapo chuo cha Afya Njombe
~ Kuzindua dawati la kijinsia
~ Kutoa elimu ya ukatili wa kijinsia
~ Kuzindua GBV Taarifa App#MabadilikoYanaanzaNaMimi pic.twitter.com/8P0mOXyS3m
— <PERSON> (@yose_hoza) December 2, 2020
Njombe MKUKI's online anti-violence network is located at Njombe Health College ~ Launch the gender desk ~ Provide education on sexual violence ~ Launch GBV Notification App
And from the city of Iringa:
Iringa
Team ya Caravan imewasili Iringa kuzungumza na wanachuo kikuu cha iringa juu
~ <PERSON>
~ <PERSON>
~ <PERSON>
~ Kuzindua GBV Taarifa App#MabadilikoYanaanzaNaMimi pic.twitter. 424