Stakeholders working on child protection and legal reform in Tanzania have developed a multi-sector roadmap aimed at strengthening the country's response to child marriage. The roadmap was created during a strategic engagement on legal and policy reforms that brought together government institutions, ministries, civil society organizations, legal practitioners, and other stakeholders. The goal is to identify gaps in the existing framework and agree on priority actions to address child marriage.
Participants at the engagement emphasized the need for legal reform to be accompanied by stronger implementation mechanisms, community awareness, and better coordination among institutions responsible for child protection. They also highlighted the importance of harmonizing policies and laws to provide consistent protection for children, particularly in communities facing economic hardship. Furthermore, stakeholders stressed the need to address both girls and boys in child protection interventions.
Representatives of government institutions noted that efforts to address child marriage should be part of a broader approach to protecting children and supporting their development. Ministries participating in the discussions identified the need to strengthen response mechanisms for children already affected by child marriage, including young mothers and other survivors, alongside prevention measures. This includes providing support for education and vocational training.
Stakeholders proposed greater use of existing community structures, such as ward and village development committees, religious and traditional leadership platforms, and elders' structures, rather than creating parallel systems that could increase pressure on limited resources. Strengthening existing systems could also help reduce dependence on external funding. Government institutions would need to consider dedicated budget allocations for child protection interventions at national and local government levels.
The roadmap places emphasis on community-based advocacy, with stakeholders proposing the identification and training of influential community champions to support awareness and behavioral change. Civil society organizations suggested strengthening advocacy through evidence-based legal and policy analysis, including a review of laws governing marriage, education, and child protection. They also called for closer engagement with education stakeholders to examine gaps in child protection.
The media was identified as an important partner in addressing child marriage, with stakeholders proposing specialized training for journalists on child protection laws, ethical reporting, and investigative journalism. The roadmap also proposes greater use of digital platforms to disseminate information, support reporting, and strengthen feedback between communities and institutions responsible for child protection.
Tanzania Child Rights Forum Programme Manager Rogasian Massue presented the roadmap, highlighting the need to examine different age definitions contained in policies governing children and young people. The stakeholders intend to engage education authorities on strengthening child protection throughout the education cycle. The roadmap is expected to be collectively owned and implemented by the institutions and organizations involved in the process.
Key points
- Stakeholders in Tanzania have agreed on a multi-sector roadmap to strengthen the country's response to child marriage.
- The roadmap focuses on harmonizing laws, protecting children through education, and addressing social and economic factors that expose families to child marriage.
- The stakeholders aim to engage education authorities, media, and community structures to support awareness and behavioral change.
