See also:
» 09.12.2010 - Mass FGM ceremonies planned in Tanzania
» 12.10.2010 - Nairobi, Dar es Salaam attracting trafficked children
» 22.12.2009 - Kenya to counter Tanzania's Ivory sales proposal
» 14.12.2009 - Spitting diplomat send home
» 18.09.2009 - Project focus to enhance child nutrition in rural Malawi and Tanzania
» 19.11.2008 - Ensure better protection for Albino children - UNICEF
» 02.10.2008 - 19 die in Tanzania disco stampede
» 27.04.2006 - Raw deal for women, children as divorce rate rises in Zanzibar











China wholesale online through DHgate.com


Houlihan's coupons


Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no:
Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares


Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no:
Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike


Tanzania
Society | Human rights | Gender - Women

Tanzania govt to amend girls' age consent for marriage

afrol News / IRIN, 10 November - The Tanzanian government is reviewing the country's Marriage Act with the aim of raising girls' age consent for marriage from 15 to 18 years, Deputy Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mathias Chikawe has said.

"The Law of Marriage Act of 1971 allows the marriage of girls at the age of 15 years; at this age the girls are still biologically and psychologically immature," Chikawe, said. "It is for such reasons that we are now in the process of reviewing that legislation."

Chikawe said the current Marriage Act was in conflict with several other local and international legal provisions. He was responding to a question on Thursday by a legislator, Lucy Owenya, who had expressed concern over the provision in the statute allowing marriage of girls under the age of 18.

Chikawe said marriage of under-age girls undermined their development by denying them the opportunity for further education. It also exposed them to risks of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and complications during pregnancy or delivery, she added.

She said the practice violated the human rights of individuals and was biologically risky. "We are aware of dangers associated with pregnancy of premature women that include deformation of the body and other complications," Chikawe said.

A recent study by the Tanzania Media Women Association shows a strong correlation between HIV/AIDS, early school dropout rate, teenage marriage and pregnancy. The association blamed the law that allows under-age girls aged to marry with parental consent.

The study, based on pregnant adolescent girls attending hospitals in the densely populated southeastern Coast and central Morogoro provinces, noted that the girls' husbands "characteristically have had multiple partners, which puts the girls at the risk of being infected with HIV/AIDS".

Immature and financially dependent, the adolescent brides are unlikely to be able to negotiate for safer sex, the study said.

"The girls are too young and ignorant about the importance of knowing their HIV/AIDS status, and lack the courage to convince their partners to know their sero-status," Upendo Mwinchande, the director of the AIDS Business Coalition of Tanzania, said.

Although 76.6 percent of the TAMWA study sample was aware of the risks posed by HIV, most of the expectant girls were married and refused to undergo HIV tests, even after counselling. Over six percent of those tested were found to be HIV-positive, just one percent below the national prevalence rate.


- Create an e-mail alert for Tanzania news
- Create an e-mail alert for Society news
- Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news
- Create an e-mail alert for Gender - Women news


 
    Printable version


On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda
Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector

afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding"

afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
Guinea
Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea

afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws

afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam

afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.



front page | news | countries | archive | currencies | news alerts login | about afrol News | contact | advertise | español 

©  afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com