Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network (TECMN)

The Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network (TECMN) was formally established on 11th October 2012, with Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF) as the network’s secretariat and FORWARD UK playing a vital role, both technically and financially.

TECMN’s establishment came after a few Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Tanzania realised the need for multi-sectorial interventions in order to end child marriage in the country. Currently, the network has 78 organization members who are committed to advocate for ending child marriage in Tanzania and the network is a member of Girls Not Brides (GNB), a global network committed to ending child marriage.

In addition, TECMN works closely with the Government through its Ministries, parliamentarians, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and girls and young women affected by child marriage.

Vision

To see Tanzania free from child marriage.

Mission

To accelerate efforts to prevent and respond to child marriage, by collaborating with the Government, NGOs, CBOs, Development Partners, the media, FBOs and the private sector and to support girls who are or have been married.

Objectives

To create and raise awareness on the harmful impacts of child marriages by localizing advocacy encouraging open, inclusive, and informed discussions at the community, national and international level.

To strengthen coordination and multi-sectoral responses to end child marriage and all forms of violence.

To monitor trends and take stock of child marriages and to undertake joint baseline surveys and evaluations, about child marriages in Tanzania.

Raise funds from internal and external partners that will assist the implementation of strategic planning.

Defend the rights of girls to health, education, and the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

TECMN’s Achievements

East Africa Regional Conference (2013)

Convened conference in collaboration with FORWARD UK on child marriage and attended by 12 countries, leading to policy recommendations submitted to the African Union.

Day of the Girl Child (October 2013)

High-level meeting with Graca Machel Trust (GMT) and UNFPA and advocated for a constitutional provision setting the minimum age of marriage to be 18 for both genders in Tanzania.

Joint Letter to Parliament (June 2014)

Prepared a joint letter with FORWARD UK, GMT, and Human Rights Watch and recommended specific provisions related to the Marriage Act in the new constitution.

DFID Global Campaign Event (July 2014)

Organized event with the Tanzania British High Commission against sexual violence and child marriage.

National Campaign Launch (August 2015)

Launched a national campaign to end child marriage in Tanzania.

MP Meetings in Dodoma (2017)

Convened meetings with MPs on amending the 1971 marriage law.

Impact Report Launch (June 2022)

Successfully launched "Sharing our Journey Insights and Learning" report.

MPs Advocacy

Established a critical mass of supportive MPs and 74 MPs signed TECMN’s petition for the legal age of marriage to be increased to 18 years.

Media Engagement

Actively engaged national and social media for awareness and LMA amendment advocacy.

Participation in Training and Workshops

Actively participated in national and international trainings, workshops, seminars, and discussions on ending child marriage.