FAITH and civil society leaders at midweek took a bold stand in support of girls’ rights, pledging to work tirelessly to prevent child and forced marriages while promoting gender equality countywide.

Diverse faith leaders and non-governmental organisations have committed to using their platforms to raise awareness about the importance of girls’ education and empowerment, underscoring that every girl has the right to grow up free from early marriage and harmful practices.

They aired these sentiments in Dar es Salaam at a stakeholder workshop for designing collaborative ways to promote girls' rights and combat violence, where a number of speakers acknowledged the detrimental impact that early and forced marriages have on girls’ development.

The event, organised jointly by the Msichana Initiative, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the interfaith standing committee on economic justice and integrity of creation (ISCEJIC), brought together key stakeholders, including religious leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs) and development partners.

The focus was on the role of faith leaders in advancing gender equality, particularly in the light of reforms to the minimum age for marriage. 

Sheikh Khamis Mataka, the ISCEJIC co-chairman, appealed to the government to strengthen policies and laws to further protect girls.

“The education and training policy and the Education Act should be reviewed to ensure better protection for girls. Compulsory education should be extended up to Form Six rather than the current Form Four, to ensure that girls can complete their studies properly,” he said.

The Marriage Act of 1971 needs to be amended to prevent girls who can pursue studies from being married off, he stated, with several religious leaders pledging to use their influence in various places of worship to raise community awareness on the harmful consequences of forced marriage.

They also vowed to advocate for stronger legal protections for girls and offer support to survivors of child marriage, where the co-chairman noted that religious texts emphasize that marriage should be a respectful and voluntary union, not forced upon anyone.

Rev. Monica Lugome of the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) highlighted the liturgical emphasis on proper child upbringing, which includes ensuring that every child’s right to education and a fulfilling life is respected. 

“As religious leaders, it is our duty to guide our communities toward justice and fairness. It is time to end the harmful practice of child marriage and give every girl the chance to achieve her dreams,” she said.

Rev. Dr Longino Rutagwelera, the principal for the Songea Catholic Institute of Technical Education, highlighted the importance of ensuring that those who enter into marriage are well grown up to face difficulties of life and not children.

 “Forcing children into marriage denies them essential rights to education and a fulfilling life, as they are burdened with the overwhelming responsibilities of building families at an early age,” he stated.

Sarah Shija, the NCA programmes manager, expressed optimism that the faith-based commitment to ending child marriages would lead to significant changes in public awareness and bring about lasting transformation.

“Through the faith and positive change for children initiative, NCA and its partners work with faith-based institutions and religious leaders to promote positive social and behaviour change in communities, raise awareness and mobilize communities to respect and uphold children’s rights—especially the rights of girls who face various challenges,” she explained.

Rachael Boma, programme specialist for women’s access to justice at UN Women Tanzania, emphasized the critical role for religious leaders in protecting children and shaping social and cultural norms that can prevent violence.

“Religious leaders are trusted figures in their communities, uniquely positioned to promote children’s well-being. They can speak out against harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, abuse and neglect,” she asserted.

She declared that child marriage, which disproportionately affects girls, intensely limits educational and economic opportunities while jeopardising their health and safety.

While Tanzania has made significant strides in addressing the issue, much work remains to be done to fully eradicate child marriage by amending laws setting 18 as minimum marriage age, the UN official emphasised.

Rebecca Gyumi, executive director of Msichana Initiative, stressed the importance of involving religious leaders in the fight against child marriage, noting that their influence reaches rural areas where the practice remains widespread.

“By framing the fight against child marriage as both a moral and religious issue, we hope to inspire a cultural shift that supports girls’ rights and ensures their futures are not shaped by early marriage,” she added.