Breaking the Silence: Why protecting girls from sexual violence must be everyone's responsibility

By Nusra Shaaban

FOR every girl who grows up in a safe and supportive environment, there is

a greater chance that she will complete her education, enjoy good health,

and contribute meaningfully to society.

Yet for thousands of girls in Tanzania, that future is threatened by one of

the most devastating forms of abuse sexual violence.

The findings of the 2024 National Survey on Violence Against Children and

Youth paint a disturbing picture. While both boys and girls experience

abuse, girls remain the most vulnerable to sexual violence, making child

protection not only a human rights issue but also a women's empowerment

issue.

For women and mothers, these findings are a reminder that protecting girls

begins long before violence occurs. It starts at home, in schools, within

communities, and across every institution responsible for safeguarding

children.

According to Dr. Samuel Likindikoki, Research Advisor for the PEACE

Project at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), the

national survey found that 11 percent of girls in mainland Tanzania have

experienced sexual violence compared to five percent of boys.

Although the survey in Zanzibar recorded six percent for both girls and

boys, experts caution that the numbers represent only reported

experiences and may not reflect the full extent of the problem, as many

cases remain hidden due to fear, shame, and stigma.

Behind every statistic is a young girl whose confidence, education, health,

and dreams may have been permanently affected.

Sexual violence leaves invisible wounds that often last a lifetime. Survivors

may experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor academic

performance, and difficulties trusting others. Some face early pregnancies,

sexually transmitted infections, or social isolation.

For girls, these experiences can interrupt childhood and alter the course of

their entire lives.

Even more worrying is the survey's finding that 95 percent of survivors of

violence and abuse do not receive any support services.

This means that thousands of girls never receive medical attention,

psychological counselling, legal protection, or social support after

experiencing abuse.

Without proper care, trauma can continue silently into adulthood, affecting

relationships, careers, and mental well-being.

Dr. Likindikoki believes improving access to services is one of the most

urgent priorities.

Through the PEACE Project, communities will be encouraged to strengthen

referral systems so that survivors can receive timely and compassionate

assistance.

Support is not only about healing; it is about restoring hope.

The PEACE Project, implemented by YLabs in partnership with Generation

Action (GenAction), began in February 2026 and will continue until January

2027.

That Funded by Oak Foundation and Waterloo Foundation, seeks to

understand the realities of sexual violence affecting young people aged 10

to 24 years while identifying community-driven solutions.

The project will operate across 14 regions, including Zanzibar's Urban

West Region, and engage nearly 1,880 stakeholders through dialogue and

community engagement activities.

The involvement of communities is particularly important because

preventing violence requires changing attitudes and behaviors, not simply

enforcing laws.

Women have a central role to play in that transformation. As mothers,

grandmothers, teachers, healthcare workers, community leaders, and

mentors, women are often the first people children trust.

Creating homes where girls feel safe to speak openly can make the

difference between silent suffering and early intervention.

Listening without judgment, believing survivors, and seeking professional

help are among the most powerful actions families can take.

Speaking during the PEACE Project discussions at the Golden Tulip

Kibweni Hotel, Deputy Permanent Secretary in Zanzibar's Ministry of

Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Khatib Mwadin

Khatib, acknowledged that violence against children remains a serious

national concern despite ongoing government efforts.

He noted that six percent of women and men in Zanzibar have experienced

sexual violence, while physical and emotional violence continue to affect

large numbers of people.

According to that survey, nine percent of women and 20 percent of men

have experienced physical violence, while 11 percent of women and 19

percent of men have experienced emotional violence.

These findings demonstrate that violence against women and girls exists

within a broader culture of abuse that must be confronted collectively.

One important message emerging from the discussions is that abuse does

not always involve adults. Sometimes children are harmed by their peers.

This reality calls for comprehensive education on respect, consent, healthy

friendships, and personal boundaries from an early age.

Parents should encourage open conversations about body safety and

appropriate behaviour, ensuring children understand that they have the

right to say "no" to unwanted touching and to report anything that makes

them uncomfortable.

Another growing concern is the role of digital technology. Today's girls are

growing up in an increasingly connected world where smartphones and

social media offer opportunities for learning, communication, and

entertainment.

However, these same platforms have also become avenues for online

harassment, grooming, cyberbullying, and sexual exploitation.

Children may unknowingly share personal information, communicate with

strangers, or become victims of manipulation through digital platforms.

Experts therefore emphasize that online safety should become an essential

part of parenting.

Parents and caregivers should monitor children's online activities,

encourage responsible internet use, and maintain open communication

about digital risks without creating fear.

Digital literacy has become just as important as traditional education. The

survey also highlights several factors that increase girls' vulnerability,

including poverty and disability.

Families facing economic hardship may struggle to provide adequate

supervision or educational opportunities, increasing children's exposure to

risky situations.

Girls living with disabilities often face additional barriers when seeking help

because they may depend on caregivers or have difficulty reporting abuse.

Protecting every girl therefore requires inclusive approaches that leave no

child behind.

Communities must also reject the culture of silence that allows abuse to

continue.

Many survivors never report violence because they fear blame, shame, or

rejection.

Changing these attitudes requires continuous public education that places

responsibility where it belongs with perpetrators, not victims.

Faith leaders, schools, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, and

community leaders all have a responsibility to promote child protection and

gender equality.

Every girl deserves to grow up believing that her voice matters and that her

community will stand beside her if she faces harm.

Women's empowerment cannot be achieved while girls continue to live

under the threat of violence.

A girl who is protected today is more likely to become a healthy, educated,

confident woman tomorrow.

She is more likely to complete school, pursue her ambitions, support her

family, and contribute to national development.

Protecting girls is therefore not simply about preventing abuse it is about

investing in Tanzania's future.

The findings of the 2024 National Survey should serve as a wake-up call

for every household.

Governments can strengthen policies, organizations can provide services,

and development partners can fund programmes, but lasting change

begins with families and communities that refuse to tolerate violence.

Every conversation about safety matters. Every report of abuse matters.

Every survivor who receives support matters.

And every girl who grows up free from violence represents a victory not

only for women but for society as a whole.

When communities choose protection over silence and compassion over

stigma, girls gain the opportunity to dream, learn, and thrive without fear.