(c)
The State Party has carried out training of trainers (TOTs) course on Parenting Education
Training Manual to extension workers who deal with children. The training is covered all professional
working on children issues at community level in all district within the mainland and until July, 2014
90 professionals have been trained those are including teachers, social welfare, police officers, and
prosecutors and CSO members
(d)
The State Party in Zanzibar has established parenting groups at the grassroots level (Shehia)
and now they are strengthened to provide children care to parents and children. The aim of
establishing these groups is to make parents to take their role and responsibility as parent by
imparting them with positive parenting skills. The State Party trained 35 TOTs National on VAC and
Positive Parenting Skills, among them there were Social Welfare Officers, Women and Children
Officers, Ministry Agencies and NGO’s deals with Children issues; and
(e)
The State Party has also developed a Roadmap (2014-2016) on Violence Against Children
and Gender Based Violence for raising awareness and campaign against violence on children. It
outlines the list of activities to be carried out during the lifespan of the roadmap some of these
activities include development of TV SOPs and radio dramas.
196. In addition, the State Party in Zanzibar has taken various measures to combat sexual violence,
harassment and sexual exploitation of girls, including supporting the Department of Social Welfare in
collaboration with Save the Children to establish a One-Stop Centre in each of the six Districts (i.e.
Micheweni, Wete, Chakechake – Pemba, Mjini – Mjini Magharibi Unguja, Kusini and Kaskazini “A”
Unguja). At the One-stop Centers children victims of violence and abuse do not require any report from
police before being admitted. Moreover, the State Party has established National GBV Committee, parenting
groups, Polisi Jamii (i.e. Community Policing) and a VAC Communication Strategy to address the issues of
violence against children. Furthermore, the State Party wishes to make it very clear that in Zanzibar there is
no compulsory testing of pregnancy to girls of any age.
197. Similarly, the New Education and Training Policy of 2014 (applicable in the Mainland) has
incorporated a statement that the government shall remove all things and environment which hindering the
access to education and completion of the respective level of education.
198. In addition, the State Party has undertaken efforts to end the heightened risk of physical and
sexual violence at school, school grounds and on the way to and from school both on the Mainland and in
Zanzibar. In the Mainland there are efforts to harmonize the legal and policy framework to make sure that
there will be clear Code of Ethics and professional conduct user friendly to teachers and other school
members. The Public Service Regulations (2003) provides, in the Third Schedule, for the adoption of a code
of ethics and conduct in the public service. These regulations are also regulates the conducts of teachers.
Paragraph 6 of this Schedule provides to the effect that any public servant should refrain from having sexual
relationships at the work place. A servant needs to avoid all types of conduct which may constitute sexual
harassment. Moreover, a public servant should respect all human rights and be courteous. A servant who
contravenes shall be subject to dismissal and brought before courts of law for criminal charge. The procedures
to dismiss a servant are provided under section 23 of the Public Service Act67. The State Party is also in the
process of preparing the Teachers Registration Act under which there are specific schedule with regards to the
Teachers’ Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct; during the reporting period the progress on the
mentioned registration was at the government structures for further comments before being approved.
199. In respect of addressing issues relating to physical and sexual violence at school and on the way
to go and back from schools in Zanzibar, the State Party has established a pilot programme on alternative
discipline in 20 schools in Zanzibar’s 10 districts (2 in each district). Through this initiative, the pilot schools
have stopped administering corporal punishment to pupils; rather, misbehaving pupils are given other,
alternative forms of discipline, including counselling, and extra studies/extra curriculum activities. The Police
Force has also designated one police officer in 50 constituencies to assist on stopping child abuse.
Furthermore, there is enhancement of the Community Police where community police have join their efforts
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Act No. 8 of 20002.
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