President Jakaya kikwete launch “CLIMB UP –SPEAK OUT” MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS ON 5TH MARCH, 2012

 President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete presents General Mirisho Sam Hagai Sarakikya, the country’s top climber who at 78 years of age has scaled to the roof of Africa 38 times and plans to make his final climb when he turns 80.

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete speaks at the launch of the climb at the Kilimanjaro National Parks Marangu gate. 

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with young climbers from Botswana.

 President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with the Minister for Community Development Gender and Children, Sophia M. Simba, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. John Hendra,flag off the climb.

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete with the Minister for Community Development Gender and Children, Sophia M. Simba, Assistant  Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. John Hendra, First Lady Mama Salma Kikwete  and the Regional Commissioner of Kilimanjaro Region Leonidas Gama join 90 gallant men and women from  36 African countries who are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with the  objective of drawing attention to the   important issue of fighting  violence against women and girls. STATE HOUSE PHOTOS

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OPENING SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY DK. JAKAYA MRISHO KIKWETE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA DURING THE FLAGGING OFF CEREMONY FOR “CLIMB UP –SPEAK OUT” MOUNT  KILIMANJARO CLIMB TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS ON 5^TH MARCH, 2012

AT MARANGU, KILIMANJARO REGION, TANZANIA

Honorable Minister for Community Development Gender and Children, Sophia M. Simba (MP);

Mr. John Hendra, Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations;

Leonidas Gama, Regional Commissioner of Kilimanjaro Region

Members of the Diplomatic Corps Present;

All Climbers; Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Introduction

I thank you Honourable Minister for your kind invitation and for affording me this rare privilege to see off 90 gallant men and women from  36 African countries who are climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with the objective of drawing attention to the   important issue of fighting  violence against women and girls.  

I welcome you all to Marangu and for those who come from outside Tanzania welcome to your other home away from home. I wish you a successful climb and I pray that all of you will reach the summit and feel the sense of conquest and accomplishment when you are on roof of Africa.

On behalf of the people and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, I thank the organisers for availing our country, this great honour of hosting this memorable event, the Africa UNITE Climb to End Violence against Women and Girls which will start shortly. Allow me also to take this opportunity to commend the United Nations’ Secretary General, H.E. Ban Ki-Moon for conceiving the Africa UNiTE Campaign. Tanzania strongly supports the Secretary General’s Campaign on “Say No - UNiTE to End Violence against Women and Girls”.

The fact that 36 African countries are represented at this event today signifies Africa’s commitment to ending violence against women and girls in our continent.   

I was personally pleased to launch the Tanzanian chapter of this Campaign on the 24^th May 2008.  I am even comforted to see that the campaign has taken a life of its own in Africa and is indeed highlighting in unprecedented ways the problem of gender based violence.

Impact of Violence against Women

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;

Violence against women is pervasive scourge which has been with us for ages. It knows no color, creed, age, status or nation. It’s in every country. What brought us here is the fact that we should not allow this cruel and worthless scourge to continue. 

Now is the time to intensify efforts to fight it.  It does no good to women other than pain and suffering both physically and emotionally. It is a violation of women’s rights of a very high degree. It demeans their personality and humanity. It prevents women from enjoying life and above all their fundamental rights and freedoms.