Tanzania, April 14 -- Dar es Salaam. Calls are growing for the government to amend the Marriage Act of 1971 to set 18 years as the minimum legal age of marriage for girls.

Currently, the law allows boys to marry at 18, while girls can marry at 14 or 15 with parental consent. Stakeholders say this contradicts child protection standards and exposes girls to early marriage.

The Tanzania Ending Child Marriage Network (TECMN) said it is engaging the government to push for reforms.

"We are undertaking policy advocacy to ensure the marriage law is amended so that no child is married below the age of 18," said Ms Irene Ernest of the Children's Dignity Forum.

She said discussions are ongoing with ministries responsible for legal affairs, commu...