Urban West Region leads in sexual child abuse case

 By Our Reporter

Isles Urban West Region leads in child sexual abuse social evil, Zanzibar Mail reports.

According to a recent study by the Office of Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) on violence against children in Zanzibar, almost half of the Isles children who suffered sexual abuse in the past four years from 2016-2019 were reported from the Urban West region.

At least 4,069 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in the Isles five regions during the period under review of which 2,052 (50.4%) cases came from three municipalities.

The study shows that Pemba South Region came second with 529 cases followed by Unguja South Region with 522 cases, Unguja North reported 489 cases while 467 cases were reported from the Pemba North Region.

In an interview with the Zanzibar Mail, members of the public opined population increase in the urban west region may have attributed to the increase in the problem.

“We see an increase of population in the region a situation that results in a large overlap of people which contribute to accelerate child sexual abuse,” said Issa Mussa of Mwembetanga.

However, he said there was need for the community to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in tackling violence against children because the situation is very serious.

Fatma Muhsini of Bububu said child sexual violence could be reduced if law enforcement agencies took severe measures against sexual offenders.

According to the OGCS report 1,154 cases of violence against children were reported in 2019 which was higher compared to the previous year in which 910 cases were reported.

The report indicates that majority sexual child abuse cases were reported in Magharibi ‘A’ District (247 cases) followed by Mjini and Magharibi ‘B’ with 212 and 180 cases respectively.

The same districts reported higher number of child violence cases in 2018 where 181 cases were reported in Magharibi ‘A’, 137 in Mjini and 132 in Magharibi ‘B’.‘B’.