Awareness session: ‘Child marriages have long-term socioeconomic effects’

Speakers highlight reasons behind the practice.

HARIPUR: “The menace of child brides is not only ruining lives but also downplaying the institution of marriage,” said Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) lawmaker Gohar Nawaz Khan while addressing a session organised by SACH, an NGO, at Khalabat Township on Tuesday.

The seminar touched on the level of public awareness about child marriages and their social, psychological, physiological and economic spin-offs. Khan stressed upon the need for legislation to curb the “crime against childhood”. DC Nisar Ahmed Khan said religion lays great emphasis on the rights of children, but “an umbrella of customs and practices has blanketed our ignorance”.

Speakers also highlighted reasons behind marrying off girls at a tender age. “Child marriages are solemnised due to poor economic conditions and communal customs,” said Khalida Saleemi, a social activist.

Saleemi said child marriages are used as an instrument to settle enmities and family disputes and that increasing divorce and abuse rates are evidence of the social ramifications of this custom. She said domestic violence, infant mortality and other birth-related complications have a direct link with underage marriages.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2014.