Child Protection

Child Protection

A majority of children in Tanzania report experiencing violence and abuse without a clear point of contact for support. The 2011 Violence against Children in Tanzania report presents violence against children as a serious problem in Tanzania with nearly 3 in 10 girls and approximately 1 in 7 boys in Tanzania having experienced sexual violence prior to the age of 18.  Almost three-quarters of both girls and boys have experienced physical violence prior to the age of 18. Despite these alarming rates and national efforts to address the problem, necessary services for affected children have been fragmented and uncoordinated with no clear primary point of contact for services provided across different ministries, departments and national agencies. The lack of response from families, community leaders, police, and state departments has meant that many cases never get reported, let alone reach the health and/or judicial services.

OMAWA seeks to ensure that children are cared for in loving, safe family and community environment with safe places to play, parents or caregivers provide well for their children.

OMAWA work to achieve the following strategic objectives in order to meet Child Protection goal

• Fostering of family and community environments for children that are free of violence, mistreatment, negligence and abuse.

In order to meet the objective OMAWA is committed to the following

• Promoting a culture of good treatment and positive discipline in families, schools and communities.
• Supporting initiatives against harmful traditional practices.
• Encouraging actions against child marriage with the involvement of community leaders and government institutions.
• Supporting the development and implementation of Child Protection plans in schools, communities and towns.
• Sensitize the implementation of the Law of the Child Act.

• Reduction of child labour and eradication of all forms of child exploitation

OMAWA is committed to the following activities to meet the objectives

• Fighting against the worst forms of child labor.
• Striving to improve working conditions and the health and safety of working children.
• Collaborating with the private sector and civil society to ensure compliance with ethical standards regarding child labor, such as Child Rights.
• Developing programs to integrate working children or ex-workers within the formal education system

{To access OMAWA Child Protection policy click here}