6. Family Environment and Alternative Care Protection of the Family Article 18 Both Constitutions recognizes the right to protect one’s family. The traditional African family has a broad interpretation which includes members of the extended family and the community at large. Key policy and legislation relating to the family include the Family Development Policy of 1996 which has just been reviewed and is awaiting Cabinet approval. This recognizes the responsibility of the family in the upbringing of the child, in issues of distribution of tasks, and resources. It also emphasizes the involvement of children in decision making especially towards their developmental issues. Other policies, including the Youth Policy and the Policy on Women and Gender, provide strategies to eliminate differences and discrimination within the family. The 1996 policy on community development also emphasizes the importance of the family as the source of development. Government interventions include the Population and Family Life Education Programme introduced in 2001 to address five areas of concern: gender inequality, sexual and reproductive health, family problems and poverty. The programme is an awareness tool and facilitates changes of attitude with regards to the five areas mentioned. To impart family life education to respective communities, the MCDGC provides training to Community Development Officers to enable them to assist communities in family and population issues. 58 Folk Development Colleges provide life skills training at grass root levels. Other support programmes include provision for seed money to establish Income Generating Activities for 2,000 families, and marital counselling. 26 MLYWCD in Zanzibar deals with counselling and marital issues and protection of children’s rights. Zanzibar Government is in the process of finalising the Family Development Policy . Life skills is provided through UNICEF support. 26 180,000 cases were attended in 2003, 288,200 in 2004 and 35,000 in 2005. 25