Child Rights Activists Rally Against Child Marriage

APP
Lahore: Child rights activists stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders to collectively combat child marriage and advocate for legislation in Punjab.
These sentiments were shared during a consultation on ‘Ending Child Marriage’ organized by the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) in Lahore on Thursday.
The event facilitated the coming together of various organizations, including development partners like UNFPA, UNICEF, and UN Women.
NCSW Chairperson, Nilofar Bakhtiar, acknowledged the serious implications of child marriage, recognizing that it denies girls their fundamental rights to choice, health, and education.
Nilofar Bakhtiar mentioned that the NCSW, in line with its mandate, has consistently reviewed legislation related to child marriage. In doing so, they identified the necessity for amendments and effective implementation approaches to address the profound impacts of this social issue.
She emphasized the necessity of providing girls, who have been married at a young age, with access to education, healthcare, and psychosocial support through rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
The goal is to help them rebuild their lives and pursue their aspirations. Emphasizing the collective effort required, she urged everyone to unite to end child marriage, advocating for a childhood filled with education, play, and dreams rather than forced marriages. The aim is to break the chains that deny children their rights and build a future where every child can flourish.
She also announced the formation of a group comprising representatives from provincial government departments, civil society, the media, social workers, and NGOs to address and control child marriage through legislative measures.

Dr Jamal Nasir, Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare, described child marriage as a form of violence and highlighted the significant maternal mortality rate in Pakistan, emphasizing the Punjab government’s commitment to reducing these numbers. He pointed out the health issues faced by girls during and after pregnancy.
Dr Sara Ahmed, Chairperson of the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Punjab, emphasized state institutions’ efforts to ensure that girls have access to information and resources for informed decision-making. She highlighted community-led initiatives promoting the rights and well-being of girls while discouraging harmful practices.
Dr Ahmed mentioned successful interventions in rural areas of Punjab with immediate stops to reported child marriages with the help of local police. Punjab was credited as the first province to enact specific legislation, the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act 2004, for the rescue, protective custody, care, and rehabilitation of destitute and neglected children in the province.
Khawar Mumtaz, former Chairperson of the NCSW, stressed the need for innovative strategies to address child marriage issues in Pakistan, emphasizing a multifaceted approach involving government policies, community engagement, education, and awareness campaigns.
Sardar Mavarhan Khan, Additional Inspector General of Punjab Police, called for handling the issue of child marriage on human and social grounds, avoiding the camouflage of the problem in the guise of religion and culture.
The workshop participants were briefed on its objectives, provided with facts and figures on the status, consequences, and drivers of child marriage. An important theory of change on child marriage was introduced, followed by group work on the child marriage framework by the participants.