THE government has pledged to amend the controversial Marriage Act of 1971 to enhance protections of girls.

The aforementianed law allows girls as young as 15 to get maried with parental consent while boys cannot get married before attaining the age of consent 18.  

Amon Mpanju, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, made this announcement in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a press conference ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11.

He stated that the government, through the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, is currently gathering public input to inform the legislative changes.

Mpanju noted that a bill to review the law had previously been drafted and submitted to Parliament for amendment. However, it was recognized that the issue was cross-cutting and required broader public involvement.

The initiative to amend the law aims to tackle the numerous challenges girls face in society, including alarming rates of early pregnancies and violence against children.

“The government is committed to strengthening oversight and ensuring that all children in the country are protected so that they can achieve their dreams,” he said.

Mpanju also urged parents and guardians to fulfill their primary responsibilities in raising children and protecting them from violence.

According to a police report on gender-based violence, from January to December 2023, there were 15,301 reported incidents of violence against children, compared to 12,163 in the same period in 2022, representing a 25.8 percent increase.

The regions with the highest statistics of child abuse are Arusha with 1,089 cases; Morogoro (976) Tanga (8840), Kinondoni (789) and the Urban-West  in Zanzibar with 788 cases.

The most common acts reported include rape (8,185 cases), sodomy (2,382 cases) and impregnating pupils (1,437 cases).

Mpanju emphasized that parents and guardians have a significant responsibility to protect children from violence, noting that 60 percent of the acts occur at home.

“Parents and guardians should communicate regularly with their children and monitor their behaviour to safeguard them from violence. Remember, a child may experience these acts and remain silent,” he said.

Regarding the International Day of the Girl Child, Mpanju stated that every year on October 11, Tanzania joins other United Nations member countries to commemorate the day, established by the UN Security Council declaration on December 19, 2011.

He added that the observance aims to highlight the unique challenges faced by girls that hinder their fundamental rights to grow and realize their full potential.

In addressing the challenges, Mpanju mentioned that the government has implemented various initiatives, including establishment of special desks in schools to empower children through awareness and and counseling in schools.

“By September of this year, a total of 3,618 desks were created, including 2,471 in primary schools and 1,147 in secondary schools,” he said.