Tanzania has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. On average 36% of the girls aged 20-24 were married before age 18 [Tanzania Demographic & Health Survey 2015/16]. Discriminatory Law of Marriage Act (1971) allows for boys to marry at 18 and girls at 14 and 15 of age.
The Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network is petitioning for the amendment of the Law of Marriage Act of 1971: To the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Tanzania Law of Marriage Act, of 1971 [CAP 29 RE 2002] sets the minimum age at 18 for boys and 15 for girls with parental consent to marry. It also permits girls to marry at the age of 14 with the court’s permission. This makes girls more vulnerable to violence and deprives them of their most basic rights such as education and right to good health. Hence, we petition to the Government to amend section 13 and 17 of the Law of the Marriage Act and raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both girls and boys.
