An electrical connector assembly comprising: a housing having a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with mating portions projecting therefrom; a terminal alignment plate having a plurality of terminal alignment plate apertures for receiving the mating portions of the terminals, the terminal alignment plate having secondary lock engagement surfaces, the terminal alignment plate being movably mounted on the housing between a protecting position in which the terminal alignment plate is positioned proximate distal ends of the terminals and a fully inserted position in which the terminal alignment plate is positioned away from the distal ends of the terminals; an independent secondary lock member, the independent secondary lock member having terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces, the independent secondary lock member being movably mounted on the housing between an open position and a closed position; wherein when the independent secondary lock member is in the open position, the terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces engage the secondary lock engagement surfaces of the terminal alignment plate to retain the terminal alignment plate in the protecting position and prevent the terminal alignment plate from being moved to the fully inserted position; wherein when the independent secondary lock member is in the closed position, the terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces do not engage the secondary lock engagement surfaces of the terminal alignment plate, allowing the terminal alignment plate to be moved to the fully inserted position, wherein the terminal alignment plate has walls extending from the terminal alignment plate, characterised in that each wall has an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions have mating connector engaging surfaces, the mating connector engaging surfaces configured to engage a portion of a mating connector to prevent the insertion of the mating connector into the electrical connector assembly when the mating connector is not in position for mating, and the downwardly extending portions have the secondary lock engagement surfaces, wherein the downwardly extending portions are received in recesses of a terminal receiving portion of the housing. a housing having a plurality of terminals mounted in the housing with mating portions projecting therefrom; a terminal alignment plate having a plurality of terminal alignment plate apertures for receiving the mating portions of the terminals, the terminal alignment plate having secondary lock engagement surfaces, the terminal alignment plate being movably mounted on the housing between a protecting position in which the terminal alignment plate is positioned proximate distal ends of the terminals and a fully inserted position in which the terminal alignment plate is positioned away from the distal ends of the terminals; an independent secondary lock member, the independent secondary lock member having terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces, the independent secondary lock member being movably mounted on the housing between an open position and a closed position; wherein when the independent secondary lock member is in the open position, the terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces engage the secondary lock engagement surfaces of the terminal alignment plate to retain the terminal alignment plate in the protecting position and prevent the terminal alignment plate from being moved to the fully inserted position; wherein when the independent secondary lock member is in the closed position, the terminal alignment plate engagement surfaces do not engage the secondary lock engagement surfaces of the terminal alignment plate, allowing the terminal alignment plate to be moved to the fully inserted position, wherein the terminal alignment plate has walls extending from the terminal alignment plate, characterised in that each wall has an upwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion, the upwardly extending portions have mating connector engaging surfaces, the mating connector engaging surfaces configured to engage a portion of a mating connector to prevent the insertion of the mating connector into the electrical connector assembly when the mating connector is not in position for mating, and the downwardly extending portions have the secondary lock engagement surfaces, wherein the downwardly extending portions are received in recesses of a terminal receiving portion of the housing.