ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's archipelago of Zanzibar on Tuesday called on stakeholders to support the government's efforts to tame rising cases of child abuse.

Riziki Pembe Juma, Zanzibar's minister for Education and Vocational Training made the remarks when speaking to journalists who attended a three-day training on children's rights.

She said Zanzibar cannot meet the Sustainable Development Goals if the current trend of child abuse leaves unattended.

Juma said that despite imposing laws leading to tough punishment against violence perpetrators, child abuse cases have been increasing on daily basis and the perpetrators are often their close relatives.

The immediate and long term social, health and economic consequences of violence against women and children represent a key challenge to national development, she said, appealing to media practitioners to focus on the area and address the challenge.

The minister said that Zanzibar government was ready to work closely with media practitioners in ending the crime.

Maha Damaj, The United Nations Children's Fund representative in Zanzibar, said the culture of silence in Zanzibar has been a cause for child abuse where parents kept silent when their children fall victims to torture and physical assaults.

She said that UN was ready to support the Zanzibar government to end rampant abuse to children and women in the island. Enditem

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