Peshawar : National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) with its development partners i.e., UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women held a consultation with provincial stakeholders in Peshawar KP, the important stakeholders among the attendees included Commission on the Status of Women, Social Welfare Department, Civil Society Organizations, Health and Education Department and Academia media representatives, NGOs, experts on mental and physical health, and lawyers.
In her opening remarks, Chairperson NCSW Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar said that KP desperately needs a child marriage restraint bill as we don’t need child brides we have to let our girls grow as girls .NCSW is determined to get the legislation done at National level as NCSW realizes the gravity of the social issue, of Child marriage .Child marriages not only deprives girls of their fundamental rights of choice but also health education . Pakistan ranks sixth in the rank in child marriages. About 18 per cent women in Pakistan are still married in childhood. According to the statistics released on Wednesday, Pakistan still has nineteen million child brides as 1 in 6 young women in the country are married in childhood. The minimum legal age for marriage in Pakistan should be eighteen but except for Sindh all the provinces are struggling to have legislation on the age and about 18pc of girls are still married before the age of 18. Considering this drastic impact of child marriage, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) will constantly be engaged to use its mandate to review the legislation related to child marriage. She asserted that the NCSW will take the child marriage bill to National Assembly as the first step after the election.
The Chief Guest Justice Retired Irshad Qaisar KP at the Occasion re affirmed that the state institutions are trying to ensure that girls have access to information and resources to make informed decisions with community-led initiatives that promote the rights and well-being of girls and discourage harmful practices. She said that I feel that child marriage has been an overlooked issue as it never appeared in the cabinet meetings, She Committed that the legal reforms in Child marriage Restraint Act will be the agenda point in upcoming cabinet meeting.
The Deputy Chief Protection Officer ,Child Protection and Welfare Commission KP Mr. Ejaz Muhammad Khan added that we are very much on board with NCSW on the issue of Child Marriage as the constitution as well as the international commitment Pakistan has ratified make the state institutions responsible for the prevention of early marriages .The KP commission is also determined to support the girls across the province to ensure their access to fundamental rights . “Girls and boys have the right to choose their own paths in life. Let us break the chains of child marriage in KP and create a supportive environment for our children to thrive. Say no to child marriage! “
The secretary NCSW Khwaja Imran thanked the participants and guest and added that. today’s agenda, child marriage restraint bill, is not against arranged marriage, it is against child marriage he said that women s education and their participation in every sector of life both private and public is the need of hour and can put restraints to nemesis like Child abuse and Child marriage.
Participants of the workshop were also briefed about its objectives and were given some facts and figures on the status of child marriage, its consequences, and drivers. An important theory of change on child marriage was also introduced that was followed by group work of participants on child marriage framework.
The participants at the consultation emphasized that Child marriages prevention requires a multifaceted approach involving government policies, community engagement, education, and awareness campaigns. They suggested that state must Strengthen and enforce laws that set a minimum age for marriage, ensuring that it is consistent with international standards. And Increase penalties for those involved in child marriages, including parents, guardians, and religious or community leaders who facilitate such unions, Promotion and investment in education for girls, providing them with the skills and knowledge to make informed choices about their lives, awareness campaigns to educate communities about the negative consequences of child marriage, and last but not the least Create economic opportunities for families, especially in communities where child marriage is prevalent, to reduce financial incentives for marrying off their children. It was recommended that Conduct research and gather data on the prevalence and root causes of child marriage to inform targeted interventions and policies. Monitor and evaluate the impact of programs and policies aimed at ending child marriage to ensure their effectiveness. Finally, collaborations with international organizations, governments, and NGOs to share best practices, resources, and expertise in the fight against child marriage.