Dar es Salaam, 27 May 2008 — President of the United Republic of Tanzania H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete signed UNIFEM’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign on Saturday 24 May 2008 in Dar es Salaam. At a colourful ceremony at Mnazi Mmoja Grounds, the president led more than 2,000 people from government ministries and institutions, universities, schools, women’s organizations, unions, the UN, and development partners to add their names to the campaign. In doing so, President Kikwete, who is also Chair of the African Union, became the second African head of state, after President Wade of Senegal, to sign onto the UNIFEM-led campaign, making a clear demonstration of his Government’s high-level commitment to making ending violence against women a priority. The ceremony was c oordinated by the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children (MCDGC) with support from UNIFEM, the South African High Commission in Dar es Salaam, the European Union and the Embassy of Spain.

President Kikwete called on women to break the silence on violence and seek redress for violations. Indicating that laws, systems and institutions in Tanzania do not adequately respond to violence against women, the president declared, “We as a government are ready to work together with development partners to review laws and take whatever measures necessary to prevent and eliminate violence against women.” The president called on all ministries, regional governors and district commissioners to actively promote the campaign.

The ceremony provided an opportunity for two women survivors of violence to share their experiences. Thirty-four-year-old Asha spoke about her loosing an eye as a result of domestic violence meted out by her husband. Another woman, Tatu Bakari, told the audience how all her property was taken away by in-laws following her husband’s death in 2006, leaving her with no means of supporting her two children.

“We must say NO to violence against women; it is dehumanizing,” said Hon. Margaret Sitta, Minister of Community Development, Gender and Children. “I appeal to all to come out and sign onto the campaign and to the government to provide resources for addressing violence against women.”

European Union Ambassador Tim Clarke congratulated Tanzania for promoting the empowerment of women visible in high offices held in the United Nations, AU Commission, African Parliament, Government, Parliament and at all levels of decision making. Having said that, the Ambassador regretted that inequity and injustice are still a part of everyday life for women, particularly in the rural areas. “On my behalf and that of the EU, I pledge to make a difference, to take concrete, measurable steps to promote women’s and girls rights. I believe there is no more worthy or noble cause than to stop all violence against women and girls,” he concluded.

UN Resident Coordinator a.i Patricia Scott added her voice to the call to end violence against women, thanking the government for providing a special opportunity for women survivors to share their experiences and for their commitment to mobilize resources for the implementation of the National Action Plan for the prevention and eradication of violence against women and children. UNIFEM was represented by Regional Programme Director Meryem Aslan and Programme Manager for Tanzania Hendrica Okondo.

To upscale UNIFEM’s Say NO campaign, the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children is planning regional-level campaigns where signatures will be collected; the minister is also proposing the establishment of a network of actors to advocate for resources to develop an integrated national response to preventing violence against women using the National Action Plan. This campaign will be managed by a broad-based task force established by the ministry that includes an inter-ministerial committee, the Commission on Human Rights for Good Governance, youth leaders, and local NGOs led by Women Legal Aid Centre (WLAC).

Mobile phone provider Vodacom offered to send one free text message to their more than two million subscribers in Tanzania to sign the Say NO to Violence against Women campaign.

The UNIFEM-organized Say NO to Violence against Women campaign is a global advocacy effort on ending violence against women. It has been designed to support UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s multi-year UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign. The UNIFEM initiative aims to demonstrate that there is an ever-growing movement of people who Say NO to violence against women and Say YES to make ending it a top priority for governments everywhere.