Unified Action, Stronger Laws, and Integrated Protection Systems Urged
Karachi: National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) convened a high-level policy dialogue titled “Safeguarding Futures: Repercussions of Child Marriage in Pakistan”, bringing together experts from health, law enforcement, the judiciary, parliament, and civil society to accelerate national action against child marriage. Chairperson NCSW, Ume Laila Azhar, reaffirmed that child marriage constitutes a grave violation of child rights, human rights, and health rights, underscoring the urgent need for Pakistan to adopt 18 years as the uniform legal age of marriage across all provinces. She highlighted persistent gaps in accountability, age-verification systems, frontline capacity, and institutional coordination, stressing the importance of a fully integrated child protection system that links police, judiciary, health, social welfare, and education sectors.
The dialogue featured contributions from senior medical specialists at Aga Khan University, who presented evidence on the severe health risks associated with adolescent pregnancy, including maternal mortality, obstructed labour, malnutrition, psychological trauma, and long-term developmental impacts on infants. Representatives from the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, Sindh Child Protection Authority, Women Development Department, and Sindh Police discussed enforcement challenges, weak case management, community resistance, and the need for judicial sensitisation and specialised child-sensitive policing. Member National Assembly Sharmila Faruqi called for strong political will to harmonise laws nationwide, stating that child marriage must be recognised as a form of violence with lifelong consequences for girls’ education, autonomy, and economic independence.
The meeting held at Aga Khan University Hospital concluded with a multi-sector consensus on key priority actions, including establishing 18 years as the national minimum age of marriage, strengthening integrated child protection mechanisms, improving digital age-verification tools, enhancing training for frontline officials, expanding adolescent awareness initiatives, and mainstreaming mental health within child protection responses.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
