MORE than 500 people are expected to take part in an open debate organized by the Tanzania Gender Network Programme at the Mabibo grounds tomorrow aimed at addressing gender-based violence.
A statement issued in Dar es Salaam by TGNP Acting Director, Ms Lilian Liundi, said the open debate was part of celebrations to mark the 16-days of activism against genderbased violence.
She said according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health last year, 23 per cent of school-going girls aged between 15 and 19 years got pregnant.
Moreover, she said 18 per cent of girls in the age group were being married off while 15 per cent were found to have undergone female genital mutilation.
"That is why during the 16-days of activism against gender-based violence we have decided to organize the public debate at which we shall focus more on youth, especially girls, to discuss the best way against the violence," she said.
The guest of honour will be the Executive Secretary of the Human Right and Good Governance Commission, Ms Mary Massey, while top artists had been invited to give a special message on gender-based violence.
Ms Liundi said the debate, among other things, was intended to empower youth on resource distribution as they deal with gender-based violence, and the importance of taking care of their health, with early marriages being a factor that endangers their lives.
She said the youth would be given a chance to discuss the challenges they face, adding that sexual corruption was increasing in schools, colleges and at the workplace.
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