Tackling the issue: Govt urged to adopt resolution against child marriages
NGO alliance says it is crucial to recognise it as a human rights violation
NGO alliance says it is crucial to recognise it as a human rights violation. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
A resolution calling for an end of child, early and forced marriages will be considered at the UN Human Rights Council next week, stated a press release.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are areas where early or forced marriages occur with an alarming regularity. A consortium of mostly local NGOs, KP/FATA Alliance to End Early and Forced Marriages, urged the Pakistan government to support and co-sponsor the forthcoming resolution.
Organisations that formed the alliance include Blue Veins, Society for Rights and Development, Peace Justice Youth Organisation, UN-Women, SAP-Pakistan, Khwendo Kor, Help for Community, People Origination Help and Advocacy as well as Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development.
In the press statement, alliance coordinator Qamar Naseem said the passage of the resolution would demonstrate global commitment to addressing the issue of child marriage. “A widely-supported resolution will help build global support for ending child marriage, especially as countries begin to implement the Sustainable Development Goals target by demonstrating a global consensus on the issue.”
He added putting an end to child, early and forced marriage was essential for empowering women and achieving gender equality. “This will require a concerted effort at all levels including work on the community level by grassroots groups.” Naseem stressed boys cannot be ignored as they too fall victim to such practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2015.
A resolution calling for an end of child, early and forced marriages will be considered at the UN Human Rights Council next week, stated a press release.
Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are areas where early or forced marriages occur with an alarming regularity. A consortium of mostly local NGOs, KP/FATA Alliance to End Early and Forced Marriages, urged the Pakistan government to support and co-sponsor the forthcoming resolution.
Organisations that formed the alliance include Blue Veins, Society for Rights and Development, Peace Justice Youth Organisation, UN-Women, SAP-Pakistan, Khwendo Kor, Help for Community, People Origination Help and Advocacy as well as Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development.
In the press statement, alliance coordinator Qamar Naseem said the passage of the resolution would demonstrate global commitment to addressing the issue of child marriage. “A widely-supported resolution will help build global support for ending child marriage, especially as countries begin to implement the Sustainable Development Goals target by demonstrating a global consensus on the issue.”
He added putting an end to child, early and forced marriage was essential for empowering women and achieving gender equality. “This will require a concerted effort at all levels including work on the community level by grassroots groups.” Naseem stressed boys cannot be ignored as they too fall victim to such practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2015.