Child marriage prevention discussed

Participants propose making CNIC compulsory for marriage

PESHAWAR:

In a significant effort to address the persistent issue of child marriages in Pakistan, the National Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, and UK Aid, organized a provincial-level consultation workshop. The event took place at a local hotel in Peshawar, bringing together key stakeholders and experts to deliberate on strategies for preventing child marriages.

Justice (retired) Irshad Qaiser, the Caretaker Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Women’s Empowerment, participated the event as a special guest. Addressing the audience, Minister Qaiser acknowledged the longstanding challenge of child marriages and emphasized the caretaker government’s commitment to tackling this issue. She assured that the government is actively working on preventive measures and aims to present a comprehensive roadmap for legislating the minimum age to the next elected government.

Read: Call for raising marriage age limit for girls

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Chairperson of NCSW, Nelofar Bakhtiar, expressed gratitude to the participants and underscored the existing disparity in the age of marriage within the country. She stressed that determining a minimum age for marriage is crucial, and the NCSW is actively seeking amendments to existing laws, involving the Islamic Ideological Council in the process.

Bakhtiar further emphasized the adverse impact of early marriages on girls’ education and health, characterizing it as a tragic phenomenon. She highlighted the rising prevalence of early marriages, particularly among the female population, citing poverty as a contributing factor. The NCSW is dedicated to raising awareness about legislative changes aimed at curbing this concerning trend.

During the workshop, Chairperson NCSW presented a draft of the proposed bill to the Caretaker Provincial Minister, symbolizing a pivotal step towards legal reforms. Ejaz Khan, Chief Child Protection Unit, addressed the gathering, shedding light on the multifaceted approach the CPU adopts to combat early marriages. He emphasized the importance of setting a minimum age limit for marriage, drawing parallels with more than twenty Islamic countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2024.