Child Marriage: A Menace Robbing Women’s Right to Live, Learn

Shazia Mehboob

Islamabad: “My first child died during delivery at home as I could not reach the hospital,” said Haleema Sadia, a resident of Adiyala Road, Rawalpindi.

She has a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter now, and is expecting for the third time. We met when Haleema was visiting the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in Rawalpindi for her checkup. She is in the seventh month of her pregnancy.

But all is not well for her. “She is anaemic and needs blood,” said Dr Uzma Almas. “Anaemia is a common occurrence in almost pregnant women, particularly those who get married at a young age,” said Dr Uzma. Since she lives in Rawalpindi, Haleema regularly visits BBH for checkups, where she is attended to by Dr Uzma.

Hailing from South Punjab herself, Dr Uzma highlighted the widespread prevalence of early-age marriages in the region. She noted that the practice is considered commonplace, and people perceive no harm in it. Dr Uzma further mentioned that her own mother was married at the tender age of 16.

Recalling a recent tragedy, Dr Uzma shared that just last week, a young woman from Gujrat was brought to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, she lost her life a few hours later, although her child survived. 

According to a recent survey conducted by UNICEF, in South Punjab, specifically in districts such as Muzaffargarh, Rajapur, Lodhran, Chiniot, and Khanewal, early-age marriages are prevalent.

Following Haleema’s checkup, another pregnant woman, in her ninth month, took her place as she left the chair. Dr Uzma, on evaluating the new patient’s health, stated, “I am admitting you because you urgently require a blood injection.”

Her next patient was Shukria Bibi, a 21-year-old woman from Peshawar district. At the tender age of 15, Shukria entered into marriage. Now, after six years of married life, she is expecting for the second time, all while contending with anemia. Hailing from a remote village in Peshawar district, Shukria’s husband is also married to another woman.

Shukria’s father died when she was quite young, and her mother is dependent on her children. Shukria was living with her sister at her in-laws’ house in Rawalpindi when she entered into marriage with her brother-in-law’s friend.

Regarding pregnancy complications in young women, Dr Uzma, a consultant gynecologist at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), said that young patients often experience anemia due to a lack of sufficient iron stores, leading to blood deficiency.

Young women in their pregnancies are at a higher risk of Antepartum Hemorrhage (APH), a health issue characterized by excessive bleeding from the genital tract in the second half of pregnancy.

APH remains a significant cause of perinatal mortality and maternal morbidity, particularly in the developed world, she said.  The gynecologist added that due to low hemoglobin levels, APH patients are also susceptible to cardiac failure.

Post-delivery bleeding is another high-risk factor for young women, serving as a leading cause of death in Pakistan, she maintained. The excessive bleeding may also force the doctors into removing the uterus, lending the woman unproductive for the rest of her life.

Fistula is another risk factor for young women’s health, she said, adding that fistula among women in Pakistan is a serious health concern, particularly affecting those who experience prolonged, obstructed labor without access to timely medical intervention. Obstetric fistula remains a significant issue in Pakistan, especially in rural areas where access to quality maternal healthcare services may be limited. The prevalence of fistula is often associated with factors such as early marriages, early pregnancies, and a lack of skilled birth attendants.

Most of the young women who visit the BBH with pregnancies are from South Punjab and KP’s far-flung regions, where the level of awareness is low and customs are strong, said Dr Hadia Abbas at the BBH.

Dr Hadia is responsible for keeping records of pregnant women who visit the hospital for checkups. When questioned about the ratio of maternal mortality among young women, she responded that there is no record available of age-wise deaths.

As per United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Pakistan statistics, the district of Shangla in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) recorded 48 incidents of child marriage in 2019, marking the highest number reported in any district across the country.

Additionally, other KP districts such as Malakand, Lower Dir, Swat, Tor Ghar, Hangu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, and Peshawar also reported a significant number of child marriages in the same year. Regarding the prevalence of child marriage incidents in Shangla, when approached, Shangla police spokesperson Umar Rahman stated that early-age marriage is a customary practice in the region, and there is no objection to it, even among the police.

He said local administrations often run awareness campaigns on the issue, but we don’t stop people by force. However, he said police take action whenever someone registers a complaint against underage marriage, but there is no law to stop such practices.

When questioned, Deputy Chief of the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission, Ijaz Khan, said that KP possesses a dynamic culture, with regions like nearly merged district (FATA) exhibiting entrenched traditional cultures and norms, leading to the reporting of such incidents.

In KP, there exists a national child marriage restraint law enacted in 1929. This existing law exhibits numerous flaws and gaps that necessitate updating, adding that the law lacks provisions specifying a role for the police or any other relevant department, and there is no mention of a registrar.

“The current Child Restraint Act neither empowers the police nor designates authority to any other department,” said Ijaz Khan.

He said the KP Child Protection and Welfare Commission is tasked with overseeing laws and regulations under the KP Child Protection Act of 2010. Following, the KP Child Protection Commission, incorporating various stakeholders, including gynecologists, was established under this law.

After comprehensive reviews of national and Islamic countries child restraint laws, a law was drafted, and the KP government and the law department vetted the draft and placed it before the cabinet, but later the government directed for more consultations from different stakeholders, particularly religious scholars.

Ijaz Khan mentioned ongoing initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to formulate a distinctive law. He stressed the active endeavors to enforce the Exclusive Child Marriage Restraint Act in the region. The deputy chief noted uncertainty regarding the timeline for approval from the provincial government.

He mentioned that there is a 1122 helpline, and upon receiving any complaint regarding such incidents, they initiate action under the KP Child Protection Act of 2010. This act grants the bureau the authority to safeguard against early forced marriages, including the registration of FIRs against the perpetrators.

Numerous incidents of child marriage have seen legal action as a result, he informed. Ijaz Khan said orphan girls are the most vulnerable to early forced marriages in KP, while also acknowledging the existence of monetary motives behind child marriages in the province.

Natural disasters such as the 2005 devastating earthquake, military operations against terrorists in Swat, and similar incidents have contributed to the prevalence of early marriages in the province.  Being a frontline province, KP faces the additional challenge of poverty, which is another factor driving early child marriages, Ijaz Khan added. 

Imran Takkar, a KP based child right activist, said early marriage emerges as a substantial catalyst for maternal and child mortality, presenting health challenges for both mothers and infants.

Apart from shouldering familial responsibilities, navigating traditional disputes, and assuming parenting roles at a young age, individuals also contend with mental health issues, exerting an impact not only on individual well-being but also on society as a whole, Takkar explained.

Economic challenges, intricately linked with population growth, frequently propel these unions, with poverty acting as a primary motivator. Additionally, geographical, social, and economic factors, exacerbated by educational disparities, further contribute to the widespread occurrence of early marriages, the child rights activist added.

The main reason behind early marriage is linked to poverty. Parents usually put the onus on other family members to get rid of poverty by marrying girls at an early age or make them source of income through charging money from bride. This remained a common practice in Gilgit and other remote regions of KP, including Shangla, Takkar maintained.

Retrospective Insights

As per statistics provided by KP Child Protection & Welfare Commission, in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, between May 2011 and December 2023, a total of 153 incidents of child marriage were reported across 12 districts.

As per KP Commission statistics, Swabi recorded the highest number with 51 reported cases, followed by Mardan with 21, Chitral with 20, and Buner with 16 during that period.

This does not, however, include statistics for all districts, for example Shangla, which as mentioned above, reported the highest number of cases in 2019.

Out of the reported cases, 26 incidents of early forced marriage involved boys, with the highest six cases reported in Abbottabad district while 127 cases involving girls, with the highest count of 41 reported in Swabi.According to a research study conducted by “Girls Not Brides” — a global partnership of more than 1,500 civil society organizations globally — In Pakistan, child marriage affects approximately 3.6 percent are married before the age of 15, 18.3 percent of girls are married before their 18th birthday, and 4.7 percent of boys are married before the age of 18.

Meanwhile, in Pakistan, 8 percent of adolescent women age 15–19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child, and this teenage child bearing has remained unchanged since 2012–13.

Approximately 5 percent of adolescent women in the wealthiest households have begun childbearing, compared to 10 percent in the lowest-income sector.

According to the data released by UNICEF-Pakistan, the practice has various causes, which include a lack of education, poverty, and social norms.

A comprehensive education and awareness drive highlighting physical and mental health implications should be launched, involving child protection units that exist across KP province to raise awareness and engage local elders.

Imran Takkar, a child rights activist from KP, said Pakistan is a signatory to seven basic core conventions that protect and promote human rights, and children are included in these basic rights.

Pakistan’s Responsibilities

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) comprises 54 articles delineating children’s rights and outlining collaborative efforts by governments to ensure these rights for all children.

It is pertinent to mention that every child possesses fundamental rights, including the right to life, survival, and development; protection from violence, abuse, or neglect; access to education facilitating their potential fulfillment; the privilege of being raised by or having a relationship with their parents; the right to express opinions and be heard under the UNCRC.

Meanwhile, Articles 11 and 25(3) of the Constitution of Pakistan acknowledge the special right to protection for children based on their vulnerability.

Pakistan formally ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) on November 12, 1990, providing comprehensive guidelines for the promotion and protection of children’s rights. And under the UNCRC, any individual below the age of 18 years is recognized as a child, emphasizing the commitment to safeguarding and promoting their well-being.

According to the Wafaqi Mohtasib document, children under the age of 18 constitute over 47 percent of Pakistan’s total population. The UNCRC mandates states that ratify the convention to undertake legislative, administrative, and other measures to implement the rights outlined in the convention.

Under the convention’s provisions, governments, including the government of Pakistan, are obligated to address children’s basic needs and support them in realizing their full potential, emphasized a child rights activist.

While Pakistan was among the early signatories in the Islamic world to commit to ensuring children’s rights comprehensively, the persistence of the child marriage culture, particularly in KP, is deemed a violation of international obligations, said Imran Takkar.

He added that such shortcomings not only contravene international commitments but also hinder the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), another set of global obligations that Pakistan is expected to fulfill.

Shazia Mehboob is an investigative journalist based in Islamabad. She tweets @shizrehman.

All information and facts provided are the sole responsibility of the writer.