My name is Rebeca Gyumi, and I am an activist, lawyer, and Global Citizen campaigning to end child marriage.
In my home country of Tanzania, 37% of girls become child brides before the age of 18, limiting girls’ access to education and opportunities to pursue meaningful work.
The power to change that statistic and repeal the law which allows child marriages now lies in the hands of the Parliament. Tweet at Tanzanian Parliamentarians and urge them to outlaw child marriage for good.
In July 2016, the High Court of Tanzania ruled that the existing 1971 Law of Marriage Act, allowing girls as young as 14 to marry, is unconstitutional. The decision was a fundamental step to protect young girls from forced marriages. And yet, the one year deadline allocated by the High Court is quickly approaching.
It is time that Parliament takes concrete measures to amend this harmful law.
On Saturday, through the Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network, I will meet with 70 Members of Parliament and ask them to champion the amendment of the Law of Marriage Act, by pushing for the Bill to be presented in the Parliament for a vote.
Global Citizens, we need you to maintain the momentum by tweeting at key decision makers today. With your help, we can protect young girls from the harmful effects of child marriage in Tanzania.
Thanks for doing what you do,
Rebeca Gyumi
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