Bride trade: fighting Tanzania's child bride tradition
In Tanzania, it is against the law to marry underage girls. Yet some families still follow the tradition and try to marry off their daughters as young as 12 or 13.
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A tradition against the law
Those responsible – the husband and the parents of the bride who allowed the wedding – face up to 30 years in prison.
An early marriage means the parents no longer have to take care of the girl, and they receive cows in exchange. Cows are central to Tanzanian village life, and some people value them more than their own daughters.
Stopping the weddings
Local authorities and activists are working to prevent child marriages, and they often interrupt the weddings. Rescued girls are taken to a shelter, where they go to school, many for the first time in their lives.
Families who hope to marry their daughters off early do not send them to school. They believe an educated wife is likely to be opinionated and disobedient, and so worth fewer cows.
Many girls here have been saved from marrying older men in the middle of their weddings, among them two 13-year-olds. A 16-year-old escaped her husband after years of abuse. Many parents and grooms have been imprisoned or are on the run.
Educated daughters
Local activist Paulo works to spare families these sad consequences. His mission is to convince people that daughters can do more when they are educated. They can get a good job instead of being traded at a young age for a few cows.
He has his own example: his daughter received an education, and she now works and helps her father financially.