End child marriage

Sindh is the only province in Pakistan that has outlawed marriage for persons under 18 years of age. However, this law is not effectively implemented or enforced, as many children are still married off under informal practices that disregard the legal age limit. The root causes of child marriage are complex and interrelated, such as poverty, culture, religion, gender discrimination, and illiteracy. Children, especially girls, have little or no voice in choosing their spouses, and often face threats and violence from their families and peers if they resist. Child marriage has devastating consequences for the children involved, as well as their families and communities.

Child marriage also deprives children of their rights to education, work, and civic participation, and traps them in a cycle of poverty and inequality. One of the major challenges in combating child marriage in Sindh is the lack of a reliable and confidential mechanism for reporting and addressing cases of child marriage. There is no child marriage helpline in Sindh, which could provide a vital service for victims and witnesses of child marriage to seek help and protection.

Azeem Hakro

Umerkot