DAR ES SALAAM: CHILDREN’s rights advocates have emphasised the need for strengthened involvement of members of the public in the protection of the girl child in the country.
Drawn from different religious institutions and non-governmental organisations, various stakeholders gathered on Friday in Dar es Salaam for a dialogue on child marriage, drawing lessons from other countries’ legal frameworks.
The dialogue was organised by Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) under its project to fight gender-based violence in Tanzania.
“We need to engage communities, religious leaders, parents, elders and youth in these conversations to shift attitudes and raise awareness about the dangers of early marriage and the importance of educating girls,” NCA Country Director Berte Marie Ulveseter said.
“I urge all of us to act with urgency and compassion. The time to act is now and together, we can create a society and a future where no girl is forced into marriage and where every girl has the chance and right to grow up, learn and choose,” she added.
Ms Ulveseter pointed out that in many countries, including Tanzania, child marriage persists as a deeply rooted social and cultural norm.
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In fact, Tanzania has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally, with approximately 37 per cent of girls married before the age of 18.
“This practice not only violates the rights of girls but also perpetuates cycles of poverty, inequality and violence,” she argued.
She suggested that one of the most effective ways to end child marriage is to raise the legal minimum age of marriage to align with the Children’s Act of 2022. This would ensure that girls are not forced into marriage before they are emotionally, physically, and psychologically prepared.
Commenting, Ms Rebeca Gyumi, the Founder and Executive Director of Msichana Initiative, said her organisation’s objective is to build a community that protects the girl child, enabling them to reach their goals.
“If we want to create a meaningful impact on girl child protection, it is important to involve the communities where the girls are,” Ms Gyumi stated.
She insisted that child marriage disproportionately affects girls, many of whom come from poor households, pointing an accusing finger at parents and guardians as contributors to the problem.
In her presentation, Ms Racheal Boma, UN Women’s Programme Specialist, called for more advocacy in law amendments to strengthen the protection of the girl child.
“Let’s be open in the fight against child marriage here in Tanzania,” Ms Boma stressed.
Chairperson of the national executive committee of the Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA), Sheikh Khamis Mataka, urged parents to protect children from adultery and to combat moral decay.
To end early marriage, Sheikh Mataka advised that compulsory education should extend to Form VI and that the law should strictly prohibit marrying students in compulsory education.
