In a strategic meeting in Dodoma, stakeholders from government bodies, ministries, civil society organisations, and legal professionals agreed on a roadmap to combat child marriage in Tanzania. The plan aims to align laws and policies, enhance educational protections for children, and address socio-economic issues leading families to engage in child marriage. This initiative seeks to strengthen the current framework and outline priority actions to protect children. The meeting highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle this complex issue.
Participants emphasised the importance of implementing legal reforms alongside improved community awareness and coordination among child protection agencies. Representatives from the government stressed the need to harmonise legislation to ensure consistent protection for all children, particularly in economically challenged communities. They noted that efforts to tackle child marriage must consider both boys and girls as part of a broader commitment to child welfare and development. This approach aims to ensure that all children are protected from child marriage.
Ministries involved in the discussions called for enhanced support for children affected by child marriage, including young mothers and survivors, alongside preventative strategies. The stakeholders proposed better utilisation of existing community structures, such as ward and village development committees, to avoid creating additional systems that could strain limited resources. This approach aims to reinforce current systems and decrease reliance on external funding. Government agencies are encouraged to allocate specific budgets for child protection initiatives at both national and local levels.
The roadmap advocates for community-led advocacy, highlighting the need for training influential figures, such as local leaders and traditional authorities, to promote awareness and encourage behaviour change. Civil society organisations suggested enhancing advocacy through evidence-based legal and policy analysis, which includes reviewing existing laws related to marriage, education, and child protection to identify inconsistencies. This approach aims to promote a coordinated and informed response to child marriage.
The media was identified as a crucial ally in combating child marriage, with recommendations for specialised training for journalists on relevant laws and ethical reporting practices. Rogasian Massue, Programme Manager at the Tanzania Child Rights Forum, noted the necessity of reviewing age definitions in policies affecting children and developing recommendations for greater consistency. This initiative aims to ensure that the media plays a supportive role in raising awareness about child marriage.
Stakeholders also intend to engage educational authorities to strengthen protections throughout the educational journey. The roadmap advocates for increased use of digital platforms for sharing information and facilitating communication between communities and child protection agencies. This approach aims to enhance the response to child marriage by leveraging technology and education. The discussions linked efforts against child marriage to broader development goals, including poverty alleviation, education, and empowerment of vulnerable households.
Mary Richard, Head of Programs at the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association, highlighted the consensus that combating child marriage requires coordinated, ongoing efforts rather than isolated actions. The discussions occur amid ongoing national consultations regarding potential reforms to Tanzania’s marriage and child protection laws, particularly concerning the Law of Marriage Act. The need for effective implementation of legal changes, supported by education and community involvement, was emphasised as essential for the welfare of children in their communities.
Key points
- Stakeholders in Tanzania agree on a comprehensive plan to combat child marriage.
- The plan focuses on aligning laws and policies, enhancing educational protections, and addressing socio-economic issues.
- The initiative aims to strengthen the current framework and outline priority actions to protect children from child marriage.
