Challenges Facing Police Gender and Children's Desks in Reduction of Gender-Based Violence and Violence against Children: A Case of Kinondoni District, Dar Es Salaam Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The study was meant to investigate challenges facing police gender and children's desks in reduction of gender-based violence and violence against children in Kinondoni district, Dar es Salaam region in Tanzania. Specifically, this study sought to identify challenges facing gender desks in Kinondoni District and sought to examine the manner such challenges have affected practice or operations of gender desks in the area. The study took place in Kinondoni district as a case study strategy because the area had experienced many forms of violence incidences compared to other districts around Mainland Tanzania and Tanzania Zanzibar. The study design used descriptive mixed research design where both qualitative and quantitative data were used. Simple random sampling procedure was used to get respondents. Data were collected by using questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. The study results showed that insufficient number of police officers, poor selection of gender desk officers, gender and children desk officers performed other police duties and lack of budget to operate gender desk programs for building offices were among the challenging of gender desk. It is recommended that police force should have special funds for gender and children's desks that will go towards building new offices, undertake training of officers and provide means of transport as well as required modern equipment.