Tanzania: Speaking up about GBV

By Janeth Leonard

Dar es Salaam, August – The story’s purpose was to raise awareness on media coverage of domestic violence in the country as a way of ending violence against women and girls. A lot of times cases of domestic violence go unreported in communities and as such, the rate of domestic violence continues to rise.  The story also set out to challenge negative norms of the society that give a blind eye to violence against women and girls.

A good number of women and girls are facing domestic violence but cultural expectations, norms and traditions hinder them from speaking out hence violence keeps on increasing.

Moreover, issues of domestic violence against women and girls are often left in the hands of family members to solve which deprives women and girls the right to attain justice.

It is extremely important to sensitize the community that domestic violence against women and girls is unacceptable and raise awareness on the impact of domestic violence to women and girls, community and the country. Media coverage of the issue also encourages victims and the community to report domestic violence.

The more stories of this nature are aired through the media, the more pressure is on legal service institutions, law enforcement bodies and human right authorities to fight for the rights of women and give them a platform to voice their concerns.

The story had 14 sources comprising eight females and six males. The story also carried the voices of survivors of domestic abuse and human rights activists.

The program had a wide reach when broadcasted as it was aired on Tanzania Broadcasting Channel, a public broadcasting station, which covers the whole country and is freely accessed.

Janeth Leonard is a Tanzanian television producer for Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation. She produced a documentary on domestic violence for the 2018 Gender and News Summit.