By Zainab Ali
ISLAMABAD: Child marriage — a deeply-rooted tradition in our society — is a serious violation of the human rights of minors and quite often steals girls’ childhood.
The menace is still a practice in some parts of Pakistan. It is a serious violation of human rights. It takes away a child’s right to a safe and healthy childhood. It mainly affects the girl child and steals their childhood.
As per the Demographic and Health Survey 2012-2013, in Pakistan, one in every three girls is married before even reaching the age of 18 years. Children who become victims of child marriages are less likely to finish their education. They are at greater risk of health issues, at-risk pre pregnancies, and even death.
Causes of child marriage
There are multiple causes behind the menace. One of the leading factors is poverty. Parents get their children married due to financial crises. It is also because of gender discrimination, tradition, and culture. Inadequate laws, poor implementation of laws, lack of awareness, lack of education, Insecurity of daughter’s future, dowry system, societal pressure.
Consequences of child marriage
Although the menace affects both genders, its implications are prominent in girls. The physical consequences, particularly to girls, are premature pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality, and malnutrition. It also has psychological effects like depression, anxiety, and stress for both genders. Early marriages can also lead to increased poverty, domestic violence, and chances of sexual violence.
Legislation about child marriages in Pakistan
In Pakistan, many legislations have been done to prevent children from child marriages. The first legal act applied in Pakistan was the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929. As per the act, the legal age to get married for a girl is 16, and for a boy, it’s 18. In 2014, the Sindh govt adopted its own “Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2014”. This act declared 18 years as the legal marriage age for girls and boys. This act was a great initiative as it announced punishments for males if they married below 18.
In 2015, Punjab amended the Child ordinance, 1970, after Sindh. Punjab passed its own Punjab Marriage Restraint Act 2015. As per this act, the legal age of marriage was announced to be 18 years. Punishments were also reported in case of violation of the act. According to the act, a male above eighteen years of age involved in this illegal act shall be punishable with imprisonment, which can be extended to six months, and a fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or in some cases, with both.
The act also says that whoever performs, conducts, or directs any child marriage shall be punishable with imprisonment, which can be extended to six months, and a fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or in some cases with both. Punishment will also be rewarded to the guardians of a victim of child marriage or any other person having the charge of the minor. The penalty will be given with imprisonment, which can be extended to six months, and a fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or in some cases with both, provided that no female shall be punishable with imprisonment.
In 2016, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) passed a bill on this. But unlike Sindh and Punjab, the bill was not passed in the KP assembly. The age of the girl child for the Nikah ceremony did not increase officially. In Balochistan, more than 21% of women between the age group of 20-24 were married before their 18th birthday, while 6% married even before reaching 15 years of age.
Elimination of child marriage in Pakistan
Eliminating the menace requires ensuring girls have access to education and health information. It can be eliminated by politically advocating policies to raise the legal age of wedding. There should be support programs to empower girls at risk of child marriage. Communities should be educated and sensitized about child marriages’ harmful impact on both genders.
Pakistan needs to take strict action and come to the practical page to resolve the forceful child marriages that are ruining the lives of the younger generations. Children are sent to juvenile jail if they commit any crime, and their consent is not taken in decision-making. Children cannot enter any contract before reaching the legal age. After the legal age, their consent for the contract should also be asked. Instead of wedding at such young ages, these children should be sent to school to better contribute to society.
