LHRC Marks the Day of the African Child 2026 by Condemning Violence Against Children and Amplifying Children's Voices

Today, June 16, 2026, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), in collaboration with the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) and the Tanzania Child Rights Forum (TCRF), joined the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child 2026 through advocacy, public engagement, and child-led participation aimed at advancing and protecting children's rights in Tanzania.

The commemoration, held under this year's theme, "Ensuring Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Every Child in Africa," provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in promoting children's rights while drawing attention to persistent challenges that continue to affect children's safety, well-being, and development.

As part of the commemoration, LHRC issued a press statement expressing grave concern over the increasing incidents of violations of children's rights in the country, particularly acts of violence, abduction, and killings of children that have continued to shock communities across Tanzania.

In the statement, LHRC strongly condemned recent incidents involving the abduction and killing of six-year-old Paulina Paul Magushi in Igunga District, Tabora Region; the killing of three children from the same family in Ruangwa District, Lindi Region; and the abduction and murder of five-year-old Razaki Damas Mwakatundu in Kyela District, Mbeya Region. These incidents are a painful reminder that many children continue to face serious threats to their safety and security despite existing legal and policy frameworks aimed at protecting them.

The Centre called upon the Government and relevant authorities to strengthen child protection systems, intensify prevention efforts, ensure timely investigations into all reported cases of violence against children, and guarantee that perpetrators are brought to justice. LHRC further emphasized the need for stronger community-based child protection mechanisms and increased public awareness to address the root causes of violence against children.

LHRC also facilitated a Children's Dialogue in partnership with THRDC and TCRF at the LHRC Headquarters in Dar es Salaam. The dialogue brought together children from various schools across the city, creating a platform for them to discuss issues affecting their lives and to directly contribute to conversations on children's rights and development.

The discussion focused on access to clean and safe water in schools and communities, in line with the theme of this year's commemoration. During the dialogue, children shared their lived experiences and highlighted several challenges they continue to face, including unreliable access to clean water, inadequate sanitation facilities, overcrowded school environments, and limited access to other essential social services.

The children explained that the lack of reliable water and sanitation services affects not only their health but also their ability to learn effectively. They noted that inadequate hygiene facilities expose children to preventable diseases, increase absenteeism, and create learning environments that do not fully support children's growth and development.

Participants also emphasized that access to water, sanitation, and hygiene should be recognized and treated as a fundamental right for every child. They pointed out that children living in underserved communities and children with disabilities often face additional barriers in accessing safe and inclusive WASH facilities, making it even more important for duty bearers to prioritize inclusive investments in these services.

One of the key highlights of the commemoration was the development and presentation of a child-led press statement to members of the media. Through the statement, the children collectively raised their concerns and aspirations, calling on the Government, development partners, the private sector, parents, and communities to take concrete steps toward ensuring universal access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene services.

In their statement, the children acknowledged ongoing efforts by the Government and various stakeholders to improve access to water and sanitation services across the country. However, they stressed that more needs to be done to ensure that every child, regardless of location, background, or disability status, can access quality WASH services in schools and communities.

The children further urged stakeholders to invest more resources in water infrastructure, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion programmes while encouraging communities to protect water sources and promote healthy hygiene practices. They also committed themselves to playing an active role in maintaining cleanliness, protecting the environment, and promoting positive hygiene behaviours among their peers.

The Day of the African Child is commemorated annually on 16 June to honour the bravery of the children of Soweto, South Africa, who in 1976 protested for their right to quality education. The day has since become an important platform for reflecting on the status of children's rights across the African continent and renewing commitments towards creating a better future for every child.

Through this year's commemoration, LHRC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting, protecting, and defending children's rights and ensuring that children's voices remain at the centre of decisions and policies that affect their lives. The Centre also reiterated its call for collective action to address violence against children and to guarantee every child's right to safety, protection, education, health, clean water, sanitation, and a dignified life.

As Africa commemorates the Day of the African Child 2026, the message from both LHRC and the children themselves remains clear: protecting children today and investing in their rights is essential to building a just, inclusive, and prosperous future for Tanzania and the continent as a whole.