Pemba, 18 -19 December 2019 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, and the Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Women and Children (MLEEWC) of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar conducted a two-day Community Dialogue Session on Protection and Response to Trafficking in Person (TiP) and other forms of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) in Pemba, the United Republic of Tanzania from 18 to 19 December 2019.

The community dialogue session aimed at raising awareness of the community on issues related to protection and response to Trafficking in Person (TiP) and other forms of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) with the specific objectives being: 1. raising awareness of community on dangers of TiP and other forms of VAWC, its linkage and prevention measures, 2. strengthening collaboration/coordination among community actors in addressing TiP and other forms of VAWC, and 3. creating a platform for protection and improved response to victims of trafficking and survivors of violence in line with the agreed upon-action points by different stakeholders in the community to address TiP and other forms of VAWC.

It contributes to pillar three of the Zanzibar Joint Programme (ZJP) which aims at Ending Violence Against Women and Children under the United Nations Assistance Development Plan II (UNDAP II) from 2016 to 2021. Additionally, it is in line with the National Action Plan 2017-2022 to End Violence Against Women and Children in Zanzibar. Lastly, the community dialogue session addressed one of the recommendations of the “IOM's Scoping Study” on Commercial Exploitation including Trafficking of Women and Children conducted in Zanzibar which is funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

28 community leaders and other key actors from the local Government including Shehia or Ward Executive Officers, Village Executive Officers, Ten Cells Leaders, Religious Leaders plus Two Social Welfare Officers from Zanzibar based in Pemba participated in the second community dialogue session.

The community dialogue session was officiated by Mr. Rashid Khalid Rashid, the ChakeChake District Commissioner who said in his opening remarks that “Children and young girls are the most affected groups as they are trafficked within and outside of Pemba of which at later stage they experience different forms of violence/abuse including sexual exploitation, denied access to education resulting to violation of human rights”.

Outcomes of the community dialogue session included: 1) increased knowledge and awareness among the community members on dangers of TiP and other forms of VAWC, its linkage and prevention measures, 2) provided an opportunity to discuss and agree on action points by different stakeholders in addressing TiP and other forms of VAWC in the community, 3) strengthened collaboration/coordination among community actors, and  4) created a platform for protection and improved response to victims of trafficking and survivors of violence.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Reuben Mbugi at rmbugi@iom.int or tel.: +255 718 983 910

Ms Sarah Abdalla at sabdalla@iom.int or tel.: +255 679 869 099