Zanzibar - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar through its Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Elders, Women and Children (MLEEWC) commemorated International Women’s Day for 2019 on 8th March at Gombani in Pemba, Zanzibar.

The event was preceded by National Dialogue activities on 5th March in Unguja and 7th March in Pemba and was organized under the United Nations (UN) Joint Programme for Ending Violence Against Women and Children in Zanzibar. Under the National Dialogue activities,  IOM facilitated discussions in line with its effort to strengthen the capacity of national stakeholders to address violence against and exploitation of women and children. Additionally, it has explored different innovative solutions and forged partnerships among key stakeholders to end violence against women and children, including human trafficking, in Zanzibar.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day  is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”, which puts innovation by women and girls, for women and girls, at the heart of efforts to achieve gender equality.

IOM works side by side with migrants to prevent and combat all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls, and to address the many different structural issues that fuel this violence and discrimination in all its projects and programmes activities.

IOM actively contributes to the United Nations (UN) Joint Programme for Ending Violence Against Women and Children in Zanzibar as well in the mainland in the United Republic of Tanzania. Violence towards women and children, including in the form of human trafficking, remains a significant problem within Tanzanian society, with high prevalence rates of violence against children. Toward this end, IOM facilitates access for the victims of trafficking and survivors of violence to the response and support services such as shelter and psychosocial services.  

“On International Women’s Day, IOM stands with all women and pays special homage to the allies who fight violence against women and children including human trafficking," said IOM Tanzania Chief of Mission, Dr. Qasim Sufi. "IOM will continue to stand with the government counterparts and United Nations partners, strive to meet every woman’s different needs and give equal opportunities for the benefit of all," he added.

Dr. Andrew William, the IOM Project Manager for the Zanzibar Joint Programme, acknowledged the financial support from the Government of Sweden through SIDA for this project. "It will positively contribute to comprehensive prevention and response to violence against women and children in Tanzania," he said.

For more information please contact Enna Lutengano at IOM Tanzania, Tel: +255 713 975000, Email:elutengano@iom.int