Dear JOhn,

It’s International Day of the Girl. We’ve got work to do. 

Child marriage violates girls' rights and limits them from living up to their full potential.

12 million girls are married in childhood every year, and far too often this is allowed by law. 

Child marriage robs girls of their childhood, legitimatizes abuse, entrenches inequality and exposes girls to a continuum of human rights violations including increased risk of domestic violence, early pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality. 

Countries across the world have committed to ending child, early and forced marriages by 2030 in line with target 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In Tanzania, for example, the minimum age for boys to marry is 18 years as set by The Law of Marriage Act 1971, but for girls it is 14 with consent of the court, and at the age of 15 with parental consent. This is not equal protection.

Consequently, 30% of girls in Tanzania are married before their 18th birthday.

The Government of Tanzania is bound by their Constitution to uphold the rights of women and girls. This includes the right of girls not to be married whilst they are still a child. 

Call on the Government of Tanzania to protect the rights of women and girls.

A landmark ruling delivering “equal protection under the law”

In 2016, Rebeca Gyumi, Director of our partner Msichana Initiative, brought a case challenging the constitutionality of the lower minimum age of marriage for girls in Tanzania, and demanding the government give girls equal protection under the law. 

The High Court ruled that marriage under the age of 18 was illegal and directed the government to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both boys and girls within one year.

However, the Attorney General of the State appealed against the ruling and we're waiting for the Court of Appeal to deliver its decision.

Tell the Government of Tanzania: A child is not a wife.

Thank you for your continued support for the rights of women and girls.

In solidarity,

Flavia Mwangovya

Global Lead, End Harmful Practices, Equality Now