Despite being responsible for the implementation of the Law of the Child Act, local government has not provided enough space for children to participate effectively in decisions affecting their life and so far they receive limited resources to realize these legal provisions.

Child marriage makes it harder for families, communities and countries to escape poverty because girls who marry young do not receive the educational and economic opportunities that help lift them out of poverty and which are necessary to build a sustainable and prosperous future for their communities.

Child marriage undermines a child’s right to education. Child marriage denies children of school age their right to the education they need for their personal development, their preparation for adulthood, and their ability to contribute to their family and community. Married girls who would like to continue schooling may be both practically and legally excluded from doing so.

Girls with higher levels of schooling are less likely to marry as children. Child marriage promotes gender inequality. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience violence within marriage than girls who marry later.

PRO needs to develop and operationalize strategic partnership with other CSOs in addressing these challenges in Tanzania through the Child Rights Governance initiatives. Such a programmer needs to focus on strengthening the governance infrastructure – the systems and mechanisms that need to be in place to effectively make all children’s rights a reality. In so doing the organization will meaningfully contribute toward bridging the gap between policy and practice for child and girls’ rights governance in Tanzania.