SAY NO TO CHILD MARRIAGE
Standing with young people to change the law in Tanzania
SAY NO TO CHILD MARRIAGE
Standing with young people to change the law in Tanzania
[The petition is now closed]
When we asked you to stand with young people and brave girls in Tanzania, as they campaigned for the law to be changed to make child marriage illegal, we were overwhelmed by your support.
An incredible 49,125 people from around the world signed the petition, urging the Tanzanian Government to make all marriage of children under 18 illegal, and our Youth for Change advocates took your names to the minister responsible for changing the law.
This youth-led action was part of a wider movement calling for change on the issue – and that movement worked. In October 2019 the Court of Appeal in Tanzania upheld the 2016 High Court ruling which changed the minimum age of marriage for girls from 14 to 18.
girls
under 18 are married around the world every day
is the age
a girl can be married in Tanzania – for boys it’s 18
girls
under the age of 15 give birth every day across the globe
Stand with young people
"From the first day I held my younger sister in my hands, I felt a responsibility. The community is ready to make a change."
- Upendo, 24
Meet Youth For Change advocates Upendo and Aidan, and find out why they’re standing with brave girls to make child marriage illegal in Tanzania.
Natalie Dormer says NO to child marriage
"The young girls of Tanzania are asking for an end to child marriage. I'm standing with them."
Actor Natalie Dormer, star of Game of Thrones, lent her support to the campaign after visiting Tanzania. During her trip she met Khadija, left, whose dreams of becoming a teacher were shattered when she had to get married.
How you made change happen in Malawi
When we stand with girls around the world, we know we can make change happen.
In 2016, more than 42,000 of you signed a petition to end child marriage in Malawi – and it worked. In 2017, the government agreed to change the Constitution, closing a loophole that made it legal for children to be married.
By signing our petition, you've taken a vital step to helping brave girls and young people change the law in Tanzania, too.
