IN efforts aimed at curbing sexual violence in Tanga Region, a team of experts has embarked on an awareness campaign to provide education to pupils and teachers in selected schools.

The team which comprises experts from Korogwe Town Council, religious leaders and representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Kizazi Hodari programme will sensitize about the negative effects of sexual violence and the importance of reporting such incidents to authorities.

On Wednesday, the team visited Silabu Primary School in Old Korogwe Ward as part of its outreach to educational institutions. 

During the visit, they conducted sessions with both teachers and pupils, offering guidance on recognizing indicators of sexual violence and the appropriate steps to take if such issues arise. 

The discussions also covered preventive techniques to protect schoolchildren both at home and in their school environments.

“We want to ensure that our schoolchildren have a broader understanding about the signs of sexual violence and how they can report them to their teachers, parents or guardians,” said Happy Luteganya, head of Korogwe Town Council community development department.

Luteganya noted that reports of sexual abuse in communities have significantly increased, threatening the health and well-being of children. 

She urged pupils to avoid associating with individuals who exhibit inappropriate behaviour and to be cautious about accepting gifts or items that might be used to exploit them.

Sponsa Mhagama, head teacher at Silabu Primary School, expressed gratitude for the visit and emphasized the shared responsibility of the entire community in safeguarding children. 

“The fight against sexual violence in schools is not solely the responsibility of teachers; every community member must take this issue seriously,” Mhagama said.

According to Article 59A of the Law of the Child, 2009, teachers, craftsmen and trainers are legally obligated to report any evidence or concerns of child abuse to social welfare officers. 

However, recent reports from the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) indicate a worrying rise in child abuse cases, with sexual abuse accounting for 81 percent of the 350 documented incidents in 2022.

Globally, it is estimated that up to 1 billion children aged 2-17 years have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. Target 16.2 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to “end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children.”