About 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year in Pakistan
TURBAT: Child marriage is a violation of children’s human rights and an extreme manifestation of gender inequality. About 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year in Pakistan.
This is alarming. We need to realise that early marriage denies girls their right to make vital decisions about their body health, besides forcing them out of education, and into a life of poor prospects with an increased risk of violence.
Early pregnancy is also one of the most dangerous causes and consequences of this harmful practice, giving way to the young girls becoming a victim of various infections such as HIV.
That’s why girl right activists from around the world are lobbying their government to outlaw the practice in order to put a stop to child marriages and further asking to be allowed to play an active role in their communities and break the cycle of poverty.
If we do not act now, more than 150 million girls will become child brides by 2030.
Hatir Sabz
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2018.
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