Child protection
Many children in Tanzania experience violence, neglect and exploitation.
Context
Tanzania has made important steps toward protecting children, including through child justice reform. Nonetheless, violence, exploitation, and abuse are realities for many children and adolescents in Tanzania. Those at greatest risk include children living with disabilities, those suffering extreme poverty, girls and boys in institutional care and children separated from their families or on the move. Corporal punishment is legal and widely used in schools and at home, many children still lack any proof of legal identity, the prevalence of child marriage remains high, many girls and boys experience sexual violence during childhood, and children and adolescents are increasingly exposed to online protection risks. Protecting children from all forms of violence is critical for achieving the SDGs, especially those on education, gender equality, and health.
UNICEF in action
UNICEF is dedicated to creating a protective environment for children and adolescents, ensuring their access to quality and inclusive child protection services in both development and humanitarian contexts. This involves prioritizing at-risk children, providing civil registration and protection services, establishing effective laws and policies, and engaging communities in violence prevention. UNICEF strengthens systems through support to data collection, planning and budgeting, enhancing coordination and oversight, and capacity building of the social service and child justice workforce. It involves adolescents in school-based violence prevention and promotes positive parenting through gender-transformative programming that challenges discriminatory norms. The goal is to prevent and respond to violence, empowering children and fostering a safe and supportive society.