Religion. Culture and context: Protective and harmful practices in sexual and other violence against children in Zanzibar

Objectives Sexual violence against children is complicated by ideas and constructions of gender, childhood and sexuality. Understandings of sexual violence against children must thus be situated with in local contexts. This... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives
Sexual violence against children is complicated by ideas and constructions of gender, childhood and sexuality. Understandings of sexual violence against children must thus be situated with in local contexts. This paper reports on a qualitative study conducted in Zanzibar to explore the socio-cultural context for sexual violence against children and to understand the types, perpetrators and situations of such violence.

Methods
The research was conducted in a rural and urban districts in Zanzibar and involved 12 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with adolescents, 4 IDIs with parents of children who have experienced sexual violence, 16 focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members, 2 FGDs with madrassa and school teachers and 5 key informant interviews (KIIs). Participants were recruited through local leaders and community organisations.

Results
The results revealed a complexity of ideas of what is childhood drawing on religious/cultural norms, which have been influenced by global media, especially the internet and exposure to tourism. Participants talked about moral and respectful behaviour by children, which were seen to be protective but if transgressed either put children at risk or placed them as perpetrators of sexual violence. Participants reported high levels of sexual violence against children, including rape against both girls and boys. The main perpetrators identified were other children, especially those taking drugs or alcohol, family members, but mainly people in authoritative positions especially madrassa teachers. The factors that put children at risk reported included lack of training and monitoring of madrassa teachers, lack of punishment for perpetrators, and lack of ability of parents and others in the community to protect children.

Conclusions
Sexual violence against children is a significant problem in Zanzibar and this study has revealed that programmes to reduce violence in such places as madrassa schools are urgently needed.