By Alfred Zacharia
Tanzania has recorded a major drop in violence against children and youth, according to findings from a new national survey released on June 9, 2025.
The Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, said the data shows significant progress when compared to the last survey conducted in 2009.
“This is the second national survey of its kind, carried out 15 years after the first in 2009. The results clearly demonstrate a significant decline in violence compared to the past,” she said.
The 2024 survey shows a decline in sexual, physical and emotional violence among both girls and boys.
Among girls, sexual violence dropped from 33% in 2009 to 11% in 2024. Physical violence fell from 76% to 24%, and emotional violence declined from 25% to 22%.
Among boys, sexual violence decreased from 21% to 5%, physical violence from 74% to 21%, and emotional violence from 31% to 16%.
The government says it will use these findings to review policies, improve services for survivors, and strengthen prevention strategies.
Dr. Gwajima said the Ministry will assess current laws and policies and improve cross-sector programs to combat violence.
“This will help us increase budget allocation and human resources to prevent violence and improve support services for survivors,” she said.
She described violence against children and youth as a violation of human rights with long-term health and social consequences.
“Such violence leads to long-term health effects including mental health problems, suicidal thoughts, risky sexual behavior, increased vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and drug abuse,” she said.
“It also limits development opportunities and worsens poverty in society.”
The Minister stressed that the findings would guide future planning and actions.
“These results will enable the government and partners to design stronger strategies, programs and plans to end violence, and to strengthen child and youth protection for current and future generations,” she added.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which conducted the survey, said it covered all 31 regions of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, using a nationally representative sample.
“These statistics are of high quality and reliable for designing strategic plans, programs, and evaluating interventions aimed at protecting children and youth from violence,” said Dr. Amina Msengwa, the Government Statistician General.
The report is expected to inform future government planning and budgeting in efforts to end violence and support survivors.