Young men in Tanzania's Mara Region have been encouraged to take an active role in combating gender-based violence, which continues to undermine girls' rights and prevent them from achieving their aspirations, particularly in education. The call was made by Frida Mollel, Head of Community Development at Grumeti Fund, during a symposium involving male students from three secondary schools in Bunda District. The event aimed to engage young men in efforts to end gender-based violence and promote girls' empowerment.
Frida Mollel emphasized that community development requires the participation of both men and women, warning that gender-based violence limits women's ability to contribute fully to social and economic development. She stated that young men have a critical role to play in challenging harmful practices and creating an environment where girls and women can enjoy their rights and pursue their ambitions. Mollel urged young men to join the journey of empowering women and girls, highlighting the importance of their participation in ensuring the success of these efforts.
Mollel added that a prosperous society can only be achieved through cooperation between both genders, noting that empowering women to exercise their rights is essential to poverty reduction and sustainable development. She said ending gender-based violence would allow women to focus on improving their families' welfare and contributing to economic growth rather than living under the threat of abuse. This, she believes, would have a positive impact on the overall well-being of society.
Marwa Kitende, Head of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation at Bunda District Council, also spoke at the symposium, emphasizing the vital role women play in society and their need for protection from all forms of violence. He noted that the persistence of gender-based violence partly reflects inadequate participation by men in efforts to address the problem, urging them to unite in challenging harmful practices. Kitende stressed that men must make a genuine commitment to ending violence against women to achieve lasting change.
Some students who attended the symposium called for increased human rights education to raise awareness of the effects of gender-based violence and promote a shared understanding of the need to protect women and girls. Elisha Juma, a student, suggested that young men should help girls overcome discriminatory practices that limit their participation in education and other areas of life. He cited unequal distribution of household chores as one of the challenges affecting girls' studies.
Another student, Mtatiro Wambura, urged girls to understand their rights and report violations to the relevant authorities instead of remaining silent. He believed that greater awareness of their rights, combined with support from boys and young men, would strengthen efforts to address gender-based violence. Wambura encouraged girls to speak out against such practices and seek help when faced with challenges.
The symposium aimed to engage young men in efforts to end gender-based violence and promote girls' empowerment in Tanzania's Mara Region. The event was attended by male students from three secondary schools in Bunda District, who were encouraged to take an active role in promoting girls' rights and challenging harmful practices.
Key points
- Young men in Tanzania's Mara Region are being urged to play an active role in ending gender-based violence and empowering girls to achieve their aspirations.
- The call to action was made by Frida Mollel, Head of Community Development at Grumeti Fund, during a symposium involving male students from three secondary schools in Bunda District.
- Empowering women to exercise their rights is essential to poverty reduction and sustainable development in Tanzania.
