In 2025, the UNiTE Campaign calls attention to the rapidly growing crisis of digital violence online harassment, gendered disinformation, image-based abuse, cyberbullying that undermines women’s rights and democracy worldwide.
In Tanzania, the October 2025 General Elections heightened the risks of digital violence and election-related GBV. Women candidates, journalists, and activists were subjected to smear campaigns, intimidation, and online harassment designed to silence their voices. The National Election Act, 2024 (Section 135) prohibits violence against women in elections, but enforcement remains weak.
At the same time, offline forms of GBV intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, harmful practices, economic exploitation remain pervasive, especially at the grassroots. Survivors face stigma, limited access to justice, and inadequate support services.
The 2025 16 Days Campaign in Tanzania will therefore:
- Address all forms of GBV at national and grassroots levels.
- Spotlight Digital, Politics and Elections-related violence (aligned with UNiTE).
- Push for accountability, survivor support, and policy enforcement as foundations for justice and healing.
- Engaging youth as key advocates and change agents: This year’s campaign is dedicated to creating meaningful spaces that promote active youth participation.
- Mobilizing communities to take collective action against gender-based violence ensuring that people with disabilities who often face heightened vulnerabilities are actively engaged in community-led efforts to combat gender-based violence.
- Strengthening partnerships to expand our reach and deepen our impact: leveraging collective expertise, mobilize resources, and foster inclusive collaboration. Through these strategic alliances, we can expand our reach to underserved communities and deepen our impact with sustainable, long-term solutions.
- Objectives
- Based on the contextual analysis, 2025 campaign will focus on the following objectives: Document and spotlight digital, politics and election-related, and community GBV cases, publishing at least one national monitoring brief.
- Secure accountability commitments from NEC, political parties, law enforcement, and ministries to enforce Section 135 of the National Election Act, 2024, and strengthen GBV response systems.
- Provide survivor-centered support to at least 1,000 women and girls affected by online and offline GBV through healing circles, digital safety clinics, legal aid, and psychosocial referrals in 10 regions.
- Raise nationwide awareness by reaching at least 3 million Tanzanians via media, social media, and grassroots dialogues, reinforcing the message that all violence against women and girls is unacceptable and undermines development.
- Key Messages
- UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls. Digital violence is real violence.
- Investing in youth and young generation as agents of change.
- Violence silences democracy: Section 135 must be enforced.
- GBV in homes, schools, higher learning institution, workplaces, and communities must end. Investing in women’s safety is investing in Tanzania’s democracy and future.
- End gender-based violence through collective action, ensuring people with disabilities are heard, seen, and safe.