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“Before, I didn’t know where to report cases of violence. Now, I have the information and confidence to help others in my community do the same,” says regular Tumbatu FM listener Fatma Haji Silima.
When Tumbatu FM, a community radio station based in the Kaskazini District of Zanzibar, Tanzania, began disseminating local statistics about violence against women and girls – released monthly by UN Women and the Zanzibar Office of the Chief Government Statistician – it sought to counteract cultural norms that make it difficult for women to openly discuss abuse they have experienced from men in their communities.
“We try to go beyond just sharing the statistics by challenging misconceptions, highlighting services and encouraging action,” says Amina Mohamed, a presenter at the youth-led Kati Radio in Zanzibar, which also began disseminating the data, hosting expert interviews and taking calls from listeners. “This helps demystify gender-based violence and gives people the confidence to speak out.”
As Tumbatu FM, Kati Radio, and other stations became platforms for awareness and dialogue, Zanzibar Police say this contributed to the 1,809 cases reported to police in 2024 – a 28 per cent increase over 2020, before the monthly data releases began.
These data are also informing interventions under Tanzania’s National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children, and being used by policymakers, service-providers and local authorities to develop targeted responses: specialized training for police, gender desks for confidential reporting, and one-stop centres where survivors can access counselling, health services and legal aid.
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