1. ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE AND HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES
TANZANIA EXPERIENCE:

2. Background
According to 2012 Census in Tanzania children are about 51% out of 43 mil. People in which more than half are girls.
Tanzania is one of African Countries facing problem of early marriage since the average shows that two out of five girls are married before the age of 18.
In 2010,about 37% of the women aged were married before the age of 18
15% of all women age have undergone FGC (TDHS2010)
Child bearing before the age of 18 yrs is around 43%
Relates to several factors including Level of education; gender inequality; HTPs, and Poverty.
Child marriage violate Human Rights of Children; Girl child at higher risk.
Tanzania is party most International and Regional legal instruments that provide for human rights and for the rights of Children.

3. International and Regional Conventions and Protocols on the Right of the Child
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979)
Education for All (EFA)(1990)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989)
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990)
Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003)
SADC Protocol on Gender and Development (2008)

4. Laws and Policies relating to ending child marriage
Constitution of The United Republic of Tanzania (1977)
Child development policy (2008)
National Health Policy (2007)
Education and training policy (2014)
Law of The Child Act (2009) defines a child by the age – under 18
Law of Marriage Act (1971)
The Education Act (1978)
Sexual Offences Special Provisions Act (SOSPA) No. 101 /1998

5. Existing National strategies
National plan of action on elimination of FGM and other HTPs
National Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights promotion program
National costed plan of action (NCPA II) for MVC
National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Response to Violence against Children
Action Plan for Police Gender and Children’s Desks ( )
Five Year Strategy for Progressive Child Justice Reform ( )

6. Structures on Ending Child Marriage
National Level : Setting the Standards – Multisectoral – multistakeholder involvement in Preventing and responding
Regional and Council levels – Translating and implementing what is set at the National levels as these are the primary implementers
Different programs targeting different sectors exists

7. Programs on Ending Child Marriage
Examples of Programs/interventions
Community based programs to address gender norms and other harmful traditional practices involving males, community members
School based programs to empower adolescents and young women on their rights
Law/sector reforms e.g. LCA, 2009 and its regulations, re-entry policy

8. Multisectoral Approach on Ending Child Marriage
Ministries of Community Development, gender and Children (STF on VAC, NTC on GBV)
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Ministry of Education and Vocational training
Ministry of Labor and Employment
Ministry of Information and Youth Development
Ministry of Constitution and Legal Affairs
Ministry on Home Affairs
Development partners; CSOs; Private sector; Community.

9. Multisectoral Approach on Ending Child Marriage
Research and Policy development
Developing guidelines
Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of programs/Projects.

10. Success The law of the child act, 2009; Translated in Kiswahili
Regulations in place for enforcement of LCA.
Child help line (Pilot in 6 regions)
Police Gender and Children desk established in 417 district police stations
Running Child friendly courts
Child protection committees established at District and Ward levels
Children councils; National – Ward levels; Produce Children agenda

11. Success cont…
New education policy – provides education to girls irrespective of circumstances
School re-entry guideline for young mothers(at final stages)
Establishment of Focal Development Colleges
National guideline for Economic Strengthening of MVC households
10% decline in child marriage from
Advocacy efforts that led to high level discussion of the age of marriage. Led to the inclusion of definition of a Child in the draft reviewed constitution

12. Challenges
Most of the international instruments have been ratified but not demonstrated into national laws
Parallel running of Statutory and Customary laws
Age contradiction between laws. Eg. Child and Marriage Act
Shortage of resources to facilitate comprehensive programs
Cultural beliefs and practices (eg. FGM/C) that still puts especially a girl child at risk

13. M&E Mechanisms M&E mechanism in place for related programs
Implementing partners report to relevant authorities on monthly and quarterly basis or as required by program indicators
Task forces for each for each program meets Quarterly to review plans and progress
Periodic surveys scheduled