As the world continues to campaign against sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls, journalists in Tanzania have called for gender equality.

Development Diaries reports that the Tanzania Women Journalists Association (TAMWA) revealed that 77 percent of women journalists had experienced some acts of violence.

Speaking at the 36th anniversary of the association, the Executive Director of TAMWA, Rose Reuben, said a research that involved 22 media outlets in the country and 137 women journalists showed that women journalists continue to face risks of sexual abuse even in newsrooms.

From the study, 27 percent of the abuse was done by news sources, and 59 percent of acts of sexual harassment and bribery were done in the newsrooms against women journalists.

‘With these statistics, we still have a long way to go to ensure that acts of violence are stopped and that there is gender equality in order to have a friendly work environment for all groups’, Reuben said.

In Tanzania, 40 percent of all women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, while 17 percent have experienced sexual violence, according to data from the World Bank.

Spousal violence prevalence is highest in rural areas, averaging 52 percent, while the prevalence in urban areas averages 45 percent.

Development Diaries calls on the Tanzanian government to expressly review its laws and policies to protect women, especially in workplaces, to enable them to carry out their duties.

Photo source: TAMWA