Minister calls for greater investment in girls as Tanzania prepares to mark International Day of the Girl Child

DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dkt. Dorothy Gwajima, has called for increased investment in girls’ education, safety, health and development as Tanzania prepares to join the rest of the world in marking the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11.

Gwajima made the call today while speaking to journalists during her visit to the Dar es Salaam Girls’ School, ahead of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrations.

She said every girl has the right to grow up in a safe environment, access education, develop her talents, participate in decisions affecting her life and pursue her dreams.

The 2026 celebrations will be held under the international theme, “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights!”, which calls for stronger efforts to protect girls from child marriage, violence and abuse while ensuring they have equal opportunities in education, health, security and participation in society.

Gwajima said investing in girls is an investment in human capital and the sustainable development of the country, noting that girls should be supported to reach their full potential.

According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Mainland Tanzania had 29,365,234 children below the age of 18, including 14,680,895 girls, accounting for nearly half of all children in that age group.

The Minister also called on parents and guardians to ensure girls attend and remain in school, while teachers and school leaders were urged to create safe and child-friendly learning environments.

She further urged religious, traditional and community leaders to help challenge harmful traditions and attitudes that prevent girls from reaching their full potential.

Statistics presented in Parliament show that between July 2024 and April 2025, a total of 7,278 child survivors were reported and received services through Police Gender and Children Desks across the country. Of these, 5,905 were girls and 1,373 were boys.

The statistics also showed that reported rape cases declined from 8,185 in 2023 to 7,670 in 2024, while defilement cases dropped from 2,382 to 1,930 during the same period.

Despite the decline in some cases, the Minister stressed that the figures should not be a reason for complacency, calling for continued efforts to prevent violence, encourage reporting, provide support to survivors and ensure accountability for perpetrators.

She also urged parents, teachers and communities to ensure girls benefit from technology while being protected from risks associated with the internet and social media.

The Minister said empowering girls through education, protection and opportunities would contribute to building the Tanzania envisioned under the National Development Vision 2050.

She called on Tanzanians to invest in girls’ education, health, safety, talents and leadership, stressing that protecting and empowering girls today is essential to building a stronger Tanzania in the future.