TANZANIA: POLICE GENDER DESK PUSHES FOR AMENDMENTOF MARRIAGE ACT

Police gender desk has called on the government to make amendments of the Marriage Act of 1971 so that it can be friendly to both sexes. The Tanzania's Marriage Act of 1971 sets the minimum marriage age for girls at 15 years with parental consent and 18 for boys. It permits the marriage of 14-year-old children when a court is satisfied that special, although unspecified, circumstances exist. The call was made over the weekend by Police Trainer, Inspector John Simtowe during a seminar for journalists to build their capacity on reproductive health organised by Marie Stopes Tanzania (MST). Inspector Simtowe said the law is unfriendly to 14-year-old girls because it allows them to be married while they are still young.