Kivulini uniqueness in prevention of Domestic Violence Against Women

Women's Rights Organisation

Kivulini uniqueness in preventing Domestic Violence Against Women

While there are other organizations in Tanzania working on the issue of domestic violence and violence against women and girls directly, Kivulini is unique in many regards:

Kivulini is based in the Lake Victoria Regions of Tanzania, where there are few to no organizations focusing directly on the issue of domestic violence against women and girls.

Kivulini has deep connections with communities and has established strong relationships with local leaders, professionals and community members. Kivulini has an understanding of the level of progress on these issues within these communities, and an understanding of the interventions which are still required.

Kivulini is able to liaise at the community and government levels. Kivulini is ideally placed to bring concerns, issues and ideas of the general public into the national policy processes. Kivulini’s close connection with communities allows us to play a bridging role, bringing national policy changes and ideas into the real lives of women and men in the Lake Victoria Regions of Tanzania.

Kivulini’s approach has been recognized as systematic, holistic and one that can truly have a long-term impact on the lives of women and men at the community level. The community mobilization framework Kivulini uses has been hailed as a promising practice internationally, and has been cited as a good practice in the Secretary General’s In-Depth Study on All Forms of Violence Against Women (2006), USAID and WHO.

Kivulini has established a positive track record of working towards prevention of domestic violence. Kivulini has initiated the process of change, and implemented activities and interventions on the community, regional and national levels.

Kivulini works in collaboration with other NGOs, which increases our impact and adds our voice to important processes. We are a member of FemAct, Policy Forum and Mwanza Policy Initiation. In addition, at the regional level, Kivulini is a Focal NGO for the Gender Based Violence Prevention Network, a network which has over 150 members in the Horn of Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa.

Kivulini is a leader in domestic violence prevention, and our work is beginning to be adopted by other organizations here in Tanzania and elsewhere in the Horn of Africa, East Africa and Central Africa. Learning materials are being reproduced, and neighbouring organizations are eager to learn our strategy.

In September 2007, Kivulini was selected by The Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance to collaborate with The Commission for mutual support in the delivery of human rights education. In particular, within the political and legislative frameworks governing the United Republic of Tanzania’s response to human rights, needs and problems. According to MKUKUTA (2006, p.32), even though Tanzanians are aware of their rights to file complaints, “very few human rights cases reach the courts”. However, involving CSOs like Kivulini in public education on the principles of human rights and good governance may work to reduce intolerance, political and social exclusion.

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