TANZANIA PRAISED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE

OAK Foundation, Program Director, Florence Bruce (second left) speaks to reporters in a news conference during the launch of the report on children exposed to sexual abuse and sexual exploitation findings from three countries, Ethiopia, Nepal and Bulgaria, other are Professor Robbie Gilligan right and second right is International Consultant on Child Protection , Jane Warburton, Right is Coordinator, Tanzania Child Rights Forum Mr. Eric Guga and far left is OAK Foundation Representative Child Abuse Programme, East Africa, Fassil Marriam.

By Damas Makangale, MOblog Tanzania.

Tanzania has been hailed in its commitment to fight sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children in the African region. Today, Non Government Organisation, OAK launched a study called “Learning from children exposed to sexual abuse and sexual exploitation”. Speaking to reporters in the news conference in Dar es Salaam OAK, Director Florence Bruce said the government of Tanzania has shown commitment in the fight against child abuse.

“We are now looking forward in the future to have close collaboration with the local non-government organizations, activists, governments and others in order to have a clear solution by having agreed implementation that involves all stakeholders,” she said.

She added that the project contributes knowledge around the concept of resilience by listening to the life experience and circumstances of 257 children and young people in three countries, Ethiopia, Bulgaria and Nepal.

OAK Foundation, Program Director, Florence Bruce, gestures as she speaks to reporters at the news conference in Dar es Salaam today about the report on child abuse.

Professor Robbie Gilligan from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, said that the research focuses primarily on children’s and young people’s perspectives of sexual abuse and exploitation especially in low or middle income countries. “Children are not passive and submissive in the face of adversity, but active players in the drama of their own lives,” says Professor Gilligan.

He said that the OAK Foundation commissioned the research after partners had requested help to consider the importance of resilience for programming and government policy. Professor Gilligan emphasised that children are skilful in negotiating the daily challenges they face and most of them are able to find some relevant and sometimes unexpected sources of support.

“Getting close to children’s lives and seeking to learn from children directly gives a more accurate sense of what is going on for them good or bad,” he added. Professor Gilligan explained further that poverty, violence and stigma are often major stressors in the lives of many children around the world.

Professor Robbie Gilligan emphasizes a point to reporters during the launch of the child abuse report from three countries findings, Ethiopia, Nepal and Bulgaria.