Road to Manila 2026: Putting Children’s Voices at the Centre of Tanzania’s Commitments to End Violence Against Children
Dodoma, 30th September 2026.
What does it take to make national commitments to end violence against children meaningful in the lives of the children they are meant to protect?
For C-Sema, part of the answer is to listen to the children. This was what the two-day National Technical Team meeting held on 29th –30th September at the UNICEF Tanzania office in Dodoma was all about, as Tanzania steps up preparations for the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, scheduled to take place in Manila, Philippines, in November 2026.
The meeting brought together representatives from government, UN agencies, development partners and civil society organisations to take stock of Tanzania’s progress since the first Global Ministerial Conference in Bogotá in 2024. Participants reviewed progress against the three commitments Tanzania made in Bogotá and began shaping the country report that will inform the next stage of national and global discussions.
Representing C-Sema, Chief Executive Michael Marwa brought to the discussion one of the organisation’s most important sources of insight: the experiences children and families share when they reach out to the National Child Helpline 116.
Every day, children and families use 116 to seek support, report protection concerns and talk about issues affecting their safety and wellbeing. These experiences offer more than numbers. They provide a window into the realities children are facing and the gaps that still need attention.
For C-Sema, these voices should not stop at the Helpline. “Children’s voices should help shape the commitments we take to Manila,” said Marwa. “The National Child Helpline 116 gives us insight into the protection concerns children and families raise when they seek support. We must use that evidence to make our commitments practical and responsive.”
That conversation has already opened the door to the next important step: creating space for children to speak for themselves.
Ahead of the National Consultation in Dar es Salaam, a dedicated children’s consultation is being planned to give children an opportunity to share their perspectives on Tanzania’s commitments and priorities for ending violence against children. Their views will contribute to the national process, with children also expected to present their own statement during the National Consultation.
This is an important shift from simply speaking about children to making sure children are part of conversations that affect their lives.
The technical team also explored opportunities to strengthen Tanzania’s existing commitments, consider a possible new pledge and prepare for the country’s participation in the Manila conference.
The upcoming National Consultation in Dar es Salaam will bring together a wider group of stakeholders to review and validate the country report and proposed commitments before Tanzania heads to Manila.
As the Road to Manila continues, C-Sema will continue bringing evidence and experiences from the National Child Helpline 116 and its wider child protection work to the table, while creating more opportunities for children themselves to help shape the commitments made in their name.
Prepared by C-Sema's Communications Team.
