Pakistan has unveiled a national framework aimed at ending child marriage, the country’s information ministry announced on Thursday, marking a significant step to strengthen protections for minors. The initiative comes in response to Pakistan’s high rates of child marriage, particularly in rural and low-income communities, where rights organizations warn that early marriage exposes girls to increased risks of domestic violence, school dropout, early pregnancies, and long-term health complications.
Framework Development
The Pakistani human rights ministry finalized the 'National Framework to End Child Marriage in Pakistan' in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pakistan during a high-level two-day workshop held in Islamabad. The framework aims to provide a comprehensive strategy to combat child marriage across the country.
Official Statements
Parliamentary Secretary for Human Rights Saba Sadiq emphasized the severity of the issue, stating: 'Child marriage remains a fundamental violation of human rights that robs children, particularly girls, of their health, education, and safety.' She highlighted the link between child marriage and gender-based violence, adding that 'these interconnected issues must be confronted simultaneously to achieve lasting social change.'
Provincial Progress
The development follows recent legislative action in Pakistan’s Punjab province, which passed a new law banning marriage under the age of 18 for both boys and girls. The law also introduced tougher penalties for child marriage, child trafficking, and abuse linked to underage unions. Sindh province was the first in Pakistan to set the minimum marriage age at 18 for both genders through legislation passed in 2013. Other provinces have largely retained older legal frameworks, setting the minimum age for girls at 16.
Call for Harmonization
Sadiq urged other provinces, as well as the Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir regions, to follow the examples of Sindh and Punjab to harmonize the legal age of marriage across all territories of Pakistan. The national framework is expected to guide provincial governments in aligning their laws and policies to end child marriage effectively.
