The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Tanzania, the UN Migration Agency, in collaboration with 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 and Women and Children in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania. 

The Community dialogue session aimed to raise awareness among the community on issues of protection and response to TiP and other forms of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).

The community dialogue session is part of IOM for the current programme 2019/2020 and beyond, which contributes to pillar three of the Zanzibar Joint Programme (Ending Violence Against Women and Children) which falls under the United Nations Assistance Development Plan II (UNDAP II) from 2016 -2021. It is also in line with the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children 2017-2022 in Zanzibar. Additionally, the dialogue session addressed one of the recommendations of the IOM's Scoping Study on the Commercial Exploitation including TWAC conducted in Zanzibar.

The dialogue session brought together 28 community leaders and other key actors from Local Government including Shehia/Ward Executive Officers, Village Executive Officers and Ten Cells Leaders, religious leaders and others. two Social Welfare Officers from the MLEEWC of Zanzibar were also in attendance.

The successful outcomes of the community dialogue session included:

1) Increased knowledge and awareness among the community on the dangers of TiP and other forms of VAWC, its linkage and prevention measures,

2) the way forward/agreed upon-action points by different stakeholders in the community to address the TiP,

3) strengthened the collaboration/coordination among community actors, and

4) creation of a platform for the protection and improved response to the 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