European Union Ambassador on behalf of EU and its Member States (Team Europe)

Once again, this year, we are here to mark the start of the 16 days of Activism to End violence Against Women and Girls. This is a highly important event for the European Union and its Member States. Today, as “Team Europe”, we reaffirm our commitment here in Tanzania to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

This global campaign reminds us that gender-based violence is affecting every country with no exception, “a universal phenomenon, which takes many forms across culture, race, and class”, and is a severe violation of human rights.

The data is striking: globally, 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and 1 in 5 girls becomes a victim of child sexual abuse. In Tanzania, gender based violence across the country affects over 50% of women. This concerns all of us. These are our daughters, our sisters, our nieces, and our girls at school. And for each of these girls and women, violent experiences have tremendous consequences for their lives.

The 16 days of activism helps to raise awareness and calls for global and local action and advocacy efforts to end all forms of violence against women and girls. As Team Europe, we will also showcase what we are doing in Tanzania together with Government, Civil society and private sector. A series of 16 videos starting from today will show our concrete contributions.

This year’s theme of 16 days of activism is of particular significance, as it calls on all partners to INVEST. Besides financial resources, we need to invest our time, our talents and our experience to reinforce the momentum towards the complete elimination of violence against women and girls.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, on the launching of the 16 Days of Activism 2023, as European Union and Member States present in Tanzania [BELGIUM, DENMARK, FINLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY, IRELAND, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, POLAND, SPAIN, SWEDEN]

We reiterate that our commitment in Tanzania to this issue is firm and visible. Cumulatively, as EU and Member States in Tanzania, we are currently investing in Gender Equality and Women’s and girls’ empowerment an amount of approximately 200 Mio EUR/545.2 bio TZS. Namely:

• Belgium invests in a new programme “Wezesha Binti” empowering young women and girls in the Kigoma region through education, skills development and entrepreneurship and at creating safe, protective and gender equal environment to prevent GBV.
• Denmark invests in supporting civil society in GBV-prevention and response, including through access to justice, work with journalists and the media, Sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the Women peace and security agenda.
• Finland invests in the promotion of women’s leadership in local levels, strengthening women’s and girls’, especially of those with disabilities, rights and participation in the society and tackling all forms of GBV.
• France invests in contributing to Generation Equality Forum commitments and in prevention and response to GBV in partnership with civil society organizations, with a strong focus on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and adolescents.
• Germany invests in a joint multi-year Programme on access to justice for women and girls with a particular focus on Sexual and Gender based violence, addressing both legal and institutional barriers, working on improved state and non-state support services for survivors.
• Ireland invests in addressing the harmful social norms and practices that underpin GBV, as well as comprehensive support for survivors, spanning access to justice, primary healthcare, sustainable livelihood pathways and social protection.
• Italy will invest in women’s empowerment: aiming to create a framework of support for women and girls, especially in the field of work and  education.
• Sweden invests in Sexual and Gender Based Violence prevention and response: access to justice, economic empowerment, governance; women’s leadership, Sexual reproductive rights.
• The Netherlands invests in a global Feminist Foreign Policy focused on equal rights and opportunities; supports capacity building of young female leaders and change makers in politics, media and climate change, and combatting harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation.
• Poland invests in strengthening women’s and girls’ positions in the Tanzanian society, mainly by promoting their education and entrepreneurship, based on the strong belief that empowering women is crucial for more effective GBV-prevention.
• The European Union invests in a multisector Programme “Breaking the Glass Ceiling” with the Government of Tanzania and Zanzibar as well as different partners, supporting policies and services to end violence against women – including education, Justice, health, social protection and women economic empowerment, participation and leadership. All of this contributes to prevent and respond to violence and their effects. The Programme works through a budget support operation with the government of Tanzania and is collaborating with other Member states, UN agencies and civil society organizations on addressing root causes of violence.

We underline our commitments by working in four areas:

1. we call to end the global Growing Backlash against Gender Equality

We uphold a zero-tolerance policy toward violence against women and girls, recognizing it as a grave violation of human rights that undermines universal values as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which next month will commemorate 75 years.

We invest in accountability across the EU and beyond; in today's digital age, we combat online violence, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and create a safer digital space for all women and girls.

2. we call to Prevent and Protect

We invest in legislation. With the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention in 2023, we commit even more to end gender-based violence. There is need for a robust legal framework to combat violence against women, including domestic violence.

Tanzania, besides the Istanbul convention, relies on a powerful tool, the Maputo Protocol to the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights to protect African women from all forms of discrimination and violence. Tanzania policies and strategies as the National Plans of Action on Violence Against Women and Children and on Women, Peace and Security and the Generation Equality Forum) are also key tools. We sincerely commend the commitment of Government of Tanzania under the leadership  of H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan to achieve progress. We are looking forward to the revision of important legislation such as the Marriage Act, and inheritance legislation.

We invest in prevention and protection. Prevention is a key to break the vicious circle that perpetuates violence. Protection ensures safeguarding the well-being of victims-survivors.

In Tanzania, we are supporting help lines, shelters and services for prevention and protection of women and girls. But we also contribute to prepare the justice sector, prosecutors and investigators to tackle specific cases with the due procedures and behavior.

3. we call to break the silence and Act

Addressing Violence against Women and girls starts with talking about it to break the stigma. |It is an issue for the whole society: by combatting violence, the whole society benefits. The EU and its Member States invest to create an environment where women and children are encouraged and empowered to break this silence, strengthening support systems to ensure that every victim’s-survivor's voice is respected.

In Tanzania, together with Ministry of Community Development, Gender Women and Special groups, as well as the Ministry of Education, we support gender and children desks in schools, universities, public spaces, and in police stations, to encourage victims and their relatives to break the silence and to have a safe person to trust.

4. to call to tackle root causes that fuel inequality and violence

We invest in a comprehensive approach that tackles the root causes at the societal, cultural, and individual levels. The EU and its Member States support dismantling stereotypes and promoting non-violence, recognizing that they hinder women's or girls’ progress and contribute to gender-based violence; including for more vulnerable women, such as women and girls with disabilities, minorities, migrant women and girls.

In Tanzania, we applaud the support from H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, as well as women and male champions to show positive examples; they show that it is worth to end stereotypes and that everyone has an opportunity.

Let me conclude in proposing the government of the United Republic of Tanzania to further strengthen our dialogue on

1. advancing on key policies and legislation
2. activating and operationalize local women and children Protection Committees
3. enacting a comprehensive GBV law
4. developing Family court division
5. integrating GBV reporting and response services
6. fighting Violence against women in Elections

Let me congratulate the organization coordinating this campaign – the Mkuki coalition – and reiterate our commitment to promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment throughout these 16 days – as the rest of the year.

We stand together to prevent violence against women and girls!

Tunasimama pamoja kuzuia ukatili wa kijinsia!