www.ippmedia.com Open in urlscan Pro
2606:4700:20::681a:eaa  Public Scan

Form analysis
2 forms found in the DOM

<form wire:submit="onSearch" class="d-flex justify-content-between mx-5 px-5">
  <div class="d-flex flex-row w-100">
    <input wire:model="q" class="form-control form-control-lg " style="border-radius: 0; border-right: none;" placeholder="Search IPP Media...">
    <div class="h-100 clear-button" x-on:click="$wire.q = ''" style="border:1px solid #dcdcdc; background: white; border-right: none; border-left: none;" role="button"> Clear <span class="" style="font-size: 17px;">X</span>
    </div>
  </div>
  <button wire:click.prevent="onSearch" class="btn text-white bg-danger ml-2" style="border-radius: 0; font-size: 16px; "><i class="fa fa-search text-white" aria-hidden="true"></i></button>
</form>

<form wire:submit="onSearch" class="d-flex justify-content-between mx-1 px-4 py-3">
  <input wire:model="q" class="form-control form-control-lg " style="border:none; border-radius: 0; font-size: 15px;" placeholder="Search IPPmedia...">
  <button wire:click.prevent="onSearch" class="btn text-white bg-danger ms-0" style="border-radius: 0; font-size: 16px; ">
    <i class="fa fa-search text-white mt-1" aria-hidden="true"></i>
  </button>
</form>

Text Content

Wednesday October 2, 2024
   
 * The Guardian |
 * Nipashe |
 * Nipashe Jumapili
   


ePaper

Sign in
 * 
 * 

 * Home
   
   
 * News
     
   * Local News
   * World
     
   
   
   
   
 * Business
   
   
   
   
 * Sports
     
   * Football
   * Basketball
   * Boxing
   * Cricket
     
   
   
   
   
 * Entertainment
   
   
   
   
 * Features
   
   
   
   
 * Opinion
     
   * Editorial
   * Cartoon
     
   
   
   
   
 * Archive

 * ePaper
 * Sign in
 * 
 * 

Clear X


NEWS

   
 * Local News
 * World
   


BUSINESS


SPORTS

   
 * Football
 * Basketball
 * Boxing
 * Cricket
   


ENTERTAINMENT


FEATURES


OPINION

   
 * Editorial
 * Cartoon
   


EDITIONS

   
 * The Guardian
 * Nipashe
 * Nipashe Jumapili
   

 * Home
   
 * News
   
      
    * Local News
    * World
      

 * Business
   
   
 * Sports
   
      
    * Football
    * Basketball
    * Boxing
    * Cricket
      

 * Entertainment
   
   
 * Features
   
   
 * Opinion
   
      
    * Editorial
    * Cartoon
      

   
 * Archive


 * EDITIONS

   
 * The Guardian
 * Nipashe
 * Nipashe Jumapili
   


    
 1. The Guardian
    
    
 2. Features
    
    
    

ACTIVISTS: IMMEDIATE POLICY, LAW CHANGES NEEDED TO END CHILD MARRIAGES

By Guardian Correspondent , The Guardian
Published at 01:30 PM Sep 28 2024

Photo: Guardian Correspondent
Stakeholders visit rural areas to educate communities, advocate for policy and
legal improvement

MARA, Shinyanga, Tabora and Dodoma are among the regions in Tanzania with the
highest prevalence of child marriage, where many girls are married before their
18th birthday. The troubling trend is driven by various factors, including
income poverty, social norms, adolescent fertility and weak legal frameworks.



According to the Demographic and Health Survey (2015/16), child marriage rates
in the regions are staggering: 59 percent in Shinyanga, 58 percent in Tabora, 55
percent in Mara, and 51 percent in Dodoma. In contrast, regions like Iringa and
Dar es Salaam have much lower rates, at 8 percent and 19 percent, respectively. 

The survey also reveals that 29 percent of women aged 20-24 in Tanzania were
married before the age of 18, hindering the development of many girls.

Activists and stakeholders have long campaigned for amendments to the Marriage
Act of 1971, which they argue undermines the dignity and aspirations of children
and girls in the country. 

Despite the efforts, many young girls remain forced into marriage, finding
themselves in difficult situations that impede their development.

In a concerted effort to eradicate child marriage, activists have launched a
campaign aimed at educating girls and communities about the importance of
protecting the rights of the girl child. This campaign began earlier this week,
focusing on regions particularly vulnerable to child marriage: Mara, Shinyanga,
Tabora and Dodoma. It is organised by TECMN, comprising over 80 non-governmental
organisations, including the Msichana Initiative, Medea, Plan International, My
Legacy, Binti Makini Foundation, and the Theatre Arts Feminist Group.

During the campaign’s inauguration in Tarime District, Mara Region, Lilian
Kimati, the TECMN coordinator, expressed a commitment to eradicating practices
that hinder children’s dreams.



Currently, Tanzania’s Marriage Act sets the minimum marriage age for girls at 15
with parental consent, while boys must be at least 18. “If this law is revised,
we believe child marriages could become a thing of the past, allowing girls to
achieve their dreams,” she said.

Peragia Baron, the acting Tarime District Executive Director, acknowledged the
vital role played by various organisations in reducing child marriage and female
genital mutilation (FGM) rates in the district. “

Historically, child marriage was alarmingly common, with many girls married
shortly after undergoing FGM. It was not unusual for girls to be considered
wives by Standard Four and married by Standard Seven. In local customs, once a
girl is circumcised, she is viewed as an adult and eligible for marriage,” she
noted.

Baron added that while child marriage still exists, rates have significantly
decreased in recent years, partly due to advocacy centres supporting children
fleeing forced marriages.

 She called for more organisations to be established in rural areas to broaden
outreach. 

“If these programmes reach every village, we could make substantial progress in
preventing child marriage, as many individuals in these areas lack awareness and
do not know where to report such issues,” she said.



She said the council allocates a specific budget each year for the social
welfare department to raise awareness about combating FGM and child marriage. 

Valerian Mgani, project manager at the Association for Termination of Female
Genital Mutilation (ATFGM) in Tarime, reported that initiatives to combat child
marriage face obstacles from some politicians who defend these practices. 

“When we work against FGM and child marriage, we often encounter opposition from
certain politicians who argue that we interfere with their constituents'
customs. Even when we involve the police, they claim we act against local
traditions,” Mgani explained.

When visited Agape Knowledge Open School, a centre dedicated to rescuing and
empowering girls who have suffered abuse and those forced to drop out of school
due to early pregnancies and child marriages in Shinyanga, Kimati emphasised
that child marriage poses a serious threat to girls' education and economic
opportunities.

Amina Juma (not her real name), a girls at the AGAPE centre, shared her story,
stating that many parents in Shinyanga, especially in rural areas, still marry
off their daughters at a young age due to greed and entrenched customs. 

The girl fled home when her parents intended to marry her off for financial
gain. 



“Girls have the right to an education, and when the time comes for them to
marry, they should do so without pressure. Parents need to understand that girls
are not liabilities; relying on them for wealth is an outdated notion,” she
said.

Hadija Yasim (17), a witness to child marriage from Manyada Village, also
recounted her experience. At just 15, her uncle sought to marry her off in hopes
of gaining wealth. ]

Upon learning of the plan, she reported it to the police, who brought her to the
AGAPE centre. “In my village, a large percentage of girls like me are already
married, and I saw the struggles they faced. I was not ready to marry at my
age,” she explained.

Yasim expressed that life at the AGAPE centre is far better than returning home,
where girls face gender-based violence and pressure to marry young, leading to
serious health consequences later on.

John Mayola, director of the AGAPE centre, stated that their primary mission is
to provide guidance and counselling to help these children understand the
dangers of such practices. He reported that the centre receives about 57
children annually, including those facing early pregnancies and child marriages.
“Since January, we have admitted three pregnant girls, one of whom has already
given birth to a two-month-old baby, along with nine cases of child marriages,”
he said.

He called for government education initiatives for girls, as parents often use
various tactics to pressure them into early marriages. When girls resist, they
are sometimes coerced into living with men, which can lead to pregnancies that
facilitate marriage.

In late 2022, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Tulia Ackson proposed raising
the minimum marriage age for girls to 21. “I believe that 18 is still too young
for a child to marry, as they are not ready to handle the responsibilities of
marriage at that age. They should focus on their studies in high school,” Dr
Tulia said.

According to a 2021 United Nations report, more than 650 million women alive
today were married as children. Child marriage is a global issue driven by
gender inequality, poverty, unfavourable social norms, and insecurity.




TOP HEADLINES

Samia underwrites 34bn/- presidential memorials centre
Government, USAID intensifies campaign in the fight against rabies
Govt still slates $6bn annual tourism earnings by late 2025
‘Corporate executives should embrace artificial intelligence’
TRA extolled for providing community-friendly services
Govt urges players to lift female innovators
Project supports girls in Nzega to overcome educational challenges
Broaden your scope of operation, NBAA urged
Tanzania gets $130m AfDB loan for Samia project
Lobbyist calls for strong global treaty to curb plastic production

TRENDING STORIES

 * Categories
 * Entire Website


IN MUFINDI, WHERE WIDOWS STRUGGLE TO GET LAND RIGHTS

25 Jun 2024


SENEGAL ELECTION RESULTS: WHO IS PRESIDENT BASSIROU DIOMAYE FAYE

29 Mar 2024


TANZANIA MEETS CRITERIA FOR GRADUATION FROM LDCS STATUS ‘FOR THE FIRST TIME’

20 May 2024


AFRICA CAN TURN ITS POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND INEQUALITY CHALLENGES INTO
OPPORTUNITIES

10 Jun 2024


NEW UN TAX CONVENTION SET TO ENHANCE GROBAL FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, COOPERATION
AND JUSTICE

10 Apr 2024


MINISTER BANS US FORTIFIED FOODS AID

17 Mar 2024


ARUSHA’S NEW STADIUM PLANS ALIGN WITH BENJAMIN MKAPA STADIUM RENOVATION

27 Mar 2024


MUSEVENI SURPASSES 18 EAC COUNTERPARTS IN LONGEVITY

15 Mar 2024


HOPE OF LESS HIV INFECTION AS THOUSANDS OF MEN GO FOR CUT

16 Mar 2024


RELATED NEWS


GOVERNMENT, USAID INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST RABIES

13h ago


CONCERT MARKS 75TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF PRC

15h ago


‘CORPORATE EXECUTIVES SHOULD EMBRACE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE’

22h ago


GOVT STILL SLATES $6BN ANNUAL TOURISM EARNINGS BY LATE 2025

22h ago


DEPUTY MINISTER HINTS AT TOUGHER TRAFFIC PENALTIES

21h ago


SAMIA UNDERWRITES 34BN/- PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIALS CENTRE

22h ago


TRA EXTOLLED FOR PROVIDING COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY SERVICES

23h ago


GOVT URGES PLAYERS TO LIFT FEMALE INNOVATORS

23h ago


PROJECT SUPPORTS GIRLS IN NZEGA TO OVERCOME EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES

23h ago


PHOTOS

Local News


DR NATU LEADS DELEGATION ON THE ASSESSMENT OF THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SECTOR DEBT
STATISTICS

3d ago
Local News


SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST AS PASSENGERS SCRAMBLE FOR SPACE IN A COMMUTER BUS

3d ago
Local News


ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION OF DAR’S RAPID TRANSIT BUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

3d ago


VIDEO

Local News


DR SAMIA CALLS FOR JOINT EFFORT IN CLEAN COOKING INITIATIVE

04 Jun 2024
Local News


EXPERTS WANT LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON AI USAGE TO PROTECT PRIVACY

31 May 2024
Local News


NHIF CARDS: MINISTER POINTS AT LEGAL ACTION, REAFFIRMS DIALOGUE

02 Mar 2024



ABOUT

About Us
Terms and Conditions
Advertise with Us
Contact Us


FOLLOWS US ON


NEWS

   
 * Local News
 * World
   


BUSINESS


SPORTS

   
 * Football
 * Basketball
 * Boxing
 * Cricket
   


ENTERTAINMENT


FEATURES


OPINION

   
 * Editorial
 * Cartoon
   


EDITIONS

   
 * The Guardian
 * Nipashe
 * Nipashe Jumapili
   


OUR NETWORKING

   
 * ITV -
 * RADIO ONE -
 * EAST AFRICA TELEVISION -
 * EAST AFRICA RADIO -
 * CAPITAL TV -
 * CAPITAL RADIO
   

© 2024 IPPMEDIA.COM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED