THE government has called for more efforts by community and religious leaders to address family and marriage conflicts so that children are raised by both parents living under the same roof.

Dr Dorothy Gwajima, Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups made the appeal in Dodoma yesterday when addressing journalists ahead of the International Day of Families which is celebrated on 15th May of every year.

Admitting the increase in divorce cases due to family conflicts, she said that this year’s commemoration is themed ‘Let’s bear our differences at the family level in strengthening the upbringings of children.’

The minister said that conflicts arising from marriage and relationships upset the upbringing of children who in most cases end up being street children with bad behaviour.

“The theme reminds us of settling our family conflicts so that children are raised while sharing love from their parents. Also, it emphasises child protection against gender based violence,” she said.

According to her, government reports show that 27 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 years were subjected to body attack as of 2022 while 12 percent of the women were subjected to sexual harassment.

She said that 13 percent of women who happened to be married or had a relationship in 2021 faced the same gender based violence and discrimination acts.

The reports reveal that family conflicts have led to denying children their basic rights to receiving good education and healthcare. Young teenagers are forced to get involved in sexual relationships at a tender age.

“About 22 percent of teenage girls aged between 12 and 19 were impregnated. Underage pregnancy in rural areas topped 25 percent compared to 16 percent in urban areas,” she said.

Dr Gwajima said to contain family conflicts, the ministry was fully engaged in mediation of marriage conflicts through social welfare commission within the ministry.

It has been observing the same duties through social welfare tribunals at the village and ward levels. She said between July 2023 and April this year, a total of 14,600 family conflict cases were resolved at the tribunals.

Of the conflicts, 5,366 were marriage and divorce conflicts, 5,944 cases were rooted into conflicts related to child custody, 3,350 cases were about conflicts for children born out of wedlock.

“A total of 3,411 family conflict cases were reported to social welfare officers out of which 1,642 cases got resolved while 443 cases are in the process of being resolved,” she said.

The Disrupting Harm in Tanzania report by the government and UNICEF for 2022 shows that child online discrimination is a new wave of gender discrimination and harassment.

The report states that adolescents and teenagers lead in utilization of electronic devices that give them access to social media where gender discrimination acts are rampant.

In Tanzania, the report states that 67 percent of children aged between 12 and 17 are consumers of smart phones and internet services hence making them prone to online discrimination and violent acts.

The report reveals that children use smart phones and other electronic devices owned by their relatives, guardians, parents and friends.

It states that four percent of children were subjected to online violence during the period under review.