Federal Minister for Human Rights Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada attended the Consultation and Analysis session arranged by National Commission on the Rights of Child on the issue of Child Marriages in Pakistan as Chief Guest today in Islamabad. Representatives from the UN, members of civil society and other dignitaries also participated in this session. In his address, Minister lauded the efforts of Chairperson NCRC Ms. Afshan Tahseen and her team on the launch of policy brief and KAP (Knowledge, Attitude and Practices) Survey to suggest a way forward to address the issue of early marriages in Pakistan. He said that Women Empowerment is the top most priority of the Government of Pakistan and prevention and elimination of child marriage is equally important for economic and social uplift of this country. He stated that In our society, poverty and limited educational opportunities for children are the main reasons for marriage at a young age that is causing adverse effects on the physical and mental health of child brides. Early marriage also deprives girls of their right to education and becomes a reason behind the intergenerational transfer of poverty. Minister further said that child marriages make our society unsafe especially for girls and more incidents of domestic violence, social discrimination and abuse are reported in the areas with high ratio of early marriages. He mentioned that under article 25 A of the constitution of Pakistan, it is the state responsibility to provide free and compulsory education to all children up to the age of 16 years. There is a need to make further efforts by all provincial and federal governments to ensure that educational laws are properly applied as this is the only way forward that will help a great deal to reduce the number of child marriages in Pakistan. While stating the factors contribute towards national development, Minister said that enabling girls to improve their education, health and employment opportunities and ending poverty should be a top priority for all of us to gain the sustainable social and economic development. He expressed that in the past, this social issue was not taken seriously even this topic was considered difficult to bring under discussion but now situation has been entirely changed due the sincere efforts of some institutions and leaders. At the end, Minister reiterated that Ministry of Human Rights will fully contribute and will play its role to adapt the recommendations of this session as a regular law to stop the child marriages in our country.
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