A culture of shame and silence surrounds VAW in communities in North Unguja and North Pemba. This makes it extremely difficult to determine the prevalence of VAW and also leads to a problem of under-reporting. The vast majority of abused women do not seek help from the police or other support services meaning data from formal institutions and service-based surveys is likely to be a severe underestimate of the real extent of the problem. Compounding this problem is the fact that information is not being routinely collected by institutions and service providers in Zanzibar on violence against adult women or on the different types of VAW. Data, when it is available, is inconsistent and is frequently not disaggregated by gender. This study has sought to highlight this gap and to influence law enforcement agencies to consider the distinct needs of women who have experienced violence.
Over the last five years, the Zanzibar Government has introduced some important initiatives to address VAW such as the GBV Committees, the female police network, police gender desks and, most recently, the one stop centre at Mnazi Moja Hospital. However, the pace of change has been slow. Justice, safety, and support remain inaccessible for many women in Northern Zanzibar. This study demonstrates that addressing VAW and breaking through the ‘wall of silence’ requires a two-prong approach. Firstly, community values and attitudes which promote VAW as a community matter rather than a criminal offence and encourage marriage or the payment of compensation must be targeted through legal awareness programmes and the provision of support for survivors of VAW. Secondly, legal institutions and services must be strengthened so that they offer a viable alternative to informal mediation of VAW offences.