Taasisi zinazotetea haki za wanawake, vijana, watoto na watu wenye ulemavu Zanzibar zimeungana kwa pamoja kuadhimisha Siku 16 za Kupinga Udhalilishaji wa Kijinsia katika hafla maalum iliyofanyika katika Ofisi za TAMWA Zanzibar, Tunguu. Maadhimisho hayo yamehudhuriwa na wadau kutoka asasi za kiraia, wawakilishi wa Serikali na makundi mbalimbali ya kijamii.
Katika hafla hiyo, taasisi hizo zimewasilisha ripoti ya tathmini ya ushiriki wa wanawake, vijana na watu wenye ulemavu katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2025, ikilenga kuangalia usawa wa kijinsia, ushiriki jumuishi katika siasa na changamoto zinazoathiri makundi maalum katika nyanja za kisiasa na za kidijitali.
Akifungua maadhimisho hayo, Mjumbe wa Bodi ya Chama cha Waandishi wa Habari Wanawake Zanzibar (TAMWA ZNZ), Mwatima Rashid Issa, amesema asasi zinazopambana na udhalilishaji wa kijinsia zina jukumu muhimu katika kuhakikisha zinapaza sauti za makundi yaliyo hatarini. Amesema wanawake, watoto na watu wenye ulemavu wanahitaji ulinzi wa karibu ili waweze kupata haki zao bila vikwazo vinavyowakwamisha kushiriki kikamilifu katika maisha ya kijamii na kiuchumi.
Amesisitiza kuwa taasisi hizo zinapaswa kuongeza juhudi za utoaji wa elimu na uhamasishaji kuhusu masuala ya ukatili wa kijinsia, kwa kuwa uelewa wa jamii ndio msingi wa kujenga mazingira salama. Mwatima ameongeza kuwa mashirikiano ya karibu kati ya asasi za kiraia, viongozi wa serikali, wadau wa maendeleo na jamii kwa ujumla ni muhimu katika kutokomeza vitendo hivi ambavyo vinaathiri ustawi wa makundi maalum.
Aidha, ametoa rai kwa vyombo vya habari na watetezi wa haki za binadamu kuendelea kusimama kidete katika kuhakikisha matukio ya ukatili hayaachwi bila kutolewa taarifa na kufanyiwa kazi. Ameeleza kuwa kupitia sauti za pamoja na hatua madhubuti, Zanzibar inaweza kujenga jamii yenye usawa, inayoheshimu haki za kila mtu na kuhakikisha usalama wa makundi yote katika nyanja zote za maisha.
Akiwasilisha ripoti hiyo kwa niaba ya taasisi hizo, Mkurugenzi wa Jumuiya ya Wanawake wenye Ulemavu Zanzibar (JUWAUZA), Sabah Ali Mzee, amesema ripoti hiyo imeonesha mafanikio kadhaa katika mchakato wa uchaguzi lakini pia imesisitiza changamoto zinazotakiwa kushughulikiwa kwa haraka, zikiwemo ukosefu wa rasilimali kwa wanawake wanaojitosa katika siasa, mazingira yasiyo rafiki kwa watu wenye ulemavu wakati wa uchaguzi, na ongezeko la vitendo vya udhalilishaji mtandaoni. Aidha, ametoa wito kwa Tume ya Uchaguzi Zanzibar (ZEC) na ile ya Bara (INEC) kuboresha huduma rafiki kwa watu wenye ulemavu.
“Tunatoa wito kwa Tume ya Uchaguzi Bara na Zanzibar kuongeza upatikanaji wa huduma rafiki kwa wanawake na watu wenye ulemavu katika uchaguzi ili masuala haya yatekelezeke kwa ufanisi,” alisema Sabah Ali Mzee.
Kwa upande wa vyombo vya dola, Inspekta wa Polisi kutoka Makao Makuu ya Polisi Zanzibar, Sadik Ali Sultan, alibainisha kuwa mapambano dhidi ya udhalilishaji yanahitaji nguvu ya pamoja na uwajibikaji wa jamii nzima.
“Masuala ya udhalilishaji ni mtambuka na yanahitaji nguvu moja kuyashughulikia ili tuweze kuyapunguza au kuyatokomeza kabisa,” alisema Inspekta Sadik Ali Sultan.
Aidha, alitoa tahadhari juu ya makosa ya mtandaoni akieleza kuwa jamii inapaswa kutambua makosa yanayofanywa mtandaoni yana sheria yake, hivyo ni vyema anayefanyiwa makosa haya kuripoti katika vituo vya polisi ili sheria ifuate mkondo wake.
Kiongozi wa dini kutoka KKKT Mchungaji Lamec A. Byonge alisisitiza umuhimu wa kuimarisha elimu kwa jamii ili kupunguza vitendo vya udhalilishaji.
“Ni wakati sasa kuongeza juhudi ya utoaji wa elimu ya masuala ya udhalilishaji kupitia vyombo vya habari na maeneo mengine ikiwemo nyumba za ibada na shuleni ili kujenga jamii itakayoheshimiana,” alisema Rev. Byonge.
Maadhimisho ya Siku 16 za Kupinga Udhalilishaji wa Kijinsia hufanyika kila mwaka kuanzia tarehe 25 Novemba hadi tarehe 10 Disemba, yakilenga kuhamasisha dunia kuchukua hatua dhidi ya ukatili wa kijinsia kama ukiukwaji wa haki za binadamu. Kwa mwaka 2025, ujumbe wa kimataifa ni “Tuungane Kukomesha Ukatili wa Kidijitali Dhidi ya Wanawake na Wasichana”, huku ujumbe wa kitaifa ukiwa “Mitandao Salama ni Haki: Maliza Ukatili wa Kimtandao kwa Wanawake na Watoto.”
Maadhimisho haya yamefanyika kwa ushirikiano wa taasisi mbalimbali zinazotetea haki za wanawake, vijana, watoto na watu wenye ulemavu zikiwemo Chama cha waandishi wa Habari wanawake Tanzania – Zanzibar (TAMWA-ZNZ), Jumuiya ya Wanawake Wenye Ulemavu Zanzibar (JUWAUZA), Jumuiya ya wanasheria wanawake Zanzibar (ZAFELA), Jumuiya ya Mazingira, Jinsia na Utetezi Pemba (PEGAO), Kituo cha Huduma za Sheria Zanzibar (ZLSC), Pamoja Youth Initiative (PYI), Jumuiya ya Kupambana na Changamoto za Vijana Zanzibar (ZAFAYCO), Jukwaa la Vijana Zanzibar (ZYF) na Mtandao wa watetezi wa haki za binaadam Tanzania (THRDC).
Kupitia maadhimisho hayo, wadau hao waliwasilisha tathmini ya nafasi ya makundi maalum katika Uchaguzi Mkuu wa 2025 kwa lengo la kuibua mafanikio, changamoto na kuhimiza ushiriki jumuishi na salama katika nyanja za kisiasa na kidijitali, kama sehemu ya jitihada za kujenga jamii yenye usawa, haki na demokrasia jumuishi Zanzibar.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
INSTITUTIONS ADVOCATING FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, YOUTH AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ZANZIBAR RELEASE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE POSITION OF SPECIAL GROUPS IN THE 2025 ELECTION
Institutions advocating for the rights of women, youth, children and persons with disabilities in Zanzibar came together to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence during a special event held at the TAMWA Zanzibar offices in Tunguu. The commemoration brought together stakeholders from civil society organizations, government representatives and various community groups.
During the event, the institutions presented an assessment report on the participation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in the 2025 General Election, focusing on gender equality, inclusive political participation, and challenges affecting special groups in both political and digital spaces.
Opening the event, TAMWA ZNZ Board Member, Mwatima Rashid Issa, said that institutions fighting gender-based violence have a critical responsibility to amplify the voices of vulnerable groups. She emphasized that women, children and persons with disabilities require close protection to enjoy their rights without barriers that hinder their full participation in social and economic life.
She further stressed that these institutions must intensify education and awareness-raising efforts on gender-based violence, noting that public awareness is the foundation for building safe communities. Mwatima added that strong collaboration between civil society organizations, government leaders, development partners and the general public is essential in eradicating acts of violence that undermine the well-being of special groups.
She also called upon the media and human rights defenders to remain steadfast in ensuring that cases of violence are reported and acted upon. According to her, through collective voices and decisive action, Zanzibar can build an equitable society that respects the rights of every individual and guarantees the safety of all groups across all areas of life.
Presenting the report on behalf of the institutions, Executive Director of the Zanzibar Association of Women with Disabilities (JUWAUZA), Sabah Ali Mzee, said the report highlights several achievements in the electoral process while also underscoring urgent challenges that require immediate attention. These include limited resources for women entering politics, unfriendly electoral environments for persons with disabilities, and the growing incidence of online harassment.
She called upon both the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve disability-friendly services to ensure inclusive and effective participation in elections.
“We call upon both the mainland and Zanzibar electoral commissions to improve access to disability-friendly services for women and persons with disabilities so that these issues can be effectively addressed,” she said.
From the law enforcement sector, Police Inspector from Zanzibar Police Headquarters, Sadik Ali Sultan, stated that the fight against harassment requires collective responsibility and joint efforts from the entire society.
“Gender-based violence is cross-cutting and requires unified action if we are to reduce or completely eliminate it,” he said.
He further cautioned the public about cyber-related offences, noting that crimes committed online are governed by law, and therefore victims are encouraged to report such cases to the nearest police stations so that legal action can be taken.
Religious leader from the Evangelical Lutheran Church (ELCT), Reverend Lamec A. Byonge, emphasized the importance of strengthening community education to reduce acts of violence.
“It is now time to intensify education on gender-based violence through the media and other platforms, including places of worship and schools, in order to build a society based on mutual respect,” said Rev. Byonge.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence are observed annually from 25 November to 10 December, aiming to mobilize global action against gender-based violence as a violation of human rights. For 2025, the international theme is “Unite to End Digital Violence against Women and Girls,” while the national theme is “Safe Digital Spaces Are a Right: End Online Violence against Women and Children.”
The commemoration was organized through the collaboration of several institutions advocating for the rights of women, youth, children and persons with disabilities, including Tanzania Media Women’s Association–Zanzibar (TAMWA ZNZ), Zanzibar Association of Women with Disabilities (JUWAUZA), Zanzibar Female Lawyers Association (ZAFELA), Pemba Environment, Gender and Advocacy Organization (PEGAO), Zanzibar Legal Services Centre (ZLSC), Pamoja Youth Initiative (PYI), Zanzibar Fighting Against Youth Challenges Organisatio (ZAFAYCO), Zanzibar Youth Forum (ZYF), and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC).
Through these commemorations, stakeholders presented an assessment of the position of special groups in the 2025 General Election, with the aim of highlighting achievements, challenges, and promoting inclusive and safe participation in both political and digital spaces as part of broader efforts to build a just, equitable and inclusive democratic society in Zanzibar.
