It is a moment of utter disappointment to see the country’s legislative body curbing the efforts
KARACHI: It is a moment of utter disappointment to see the country’s legislative body curbing the efforts and the progress Pakistan is still striving to achieve towards girls’ rights and development. The Senate’s Committee on Interior rejected an amendment to the Child Rights Act that meant an increase in the minimum age of marriage for girls from 16 to 18. The rejection of the amendment prompts one to think of the possible reasons for not increasing the minimum age of marriage besides making an effort towards better provision of opportunities to girls’ education, health and intellectual development. Probably the thought behind the move originates from the mindset that still demeans and denounces societal development and progress. Also, this would widen the divide between different sections of the people where boys have adequate exposure to opportunities and career paths, but girls remain doomed to suppression at the hands of patriarchy. Letting women explore and unleash their potential outside the realm of strict gender roles is pivotal to not only the progress of society but also economic development and advancement.
Hence, the legislative bodies must ensure that child rights are protected and girl-child rights are no different from child rights.
Bakhtawer Hemani
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2017.
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