Pakistan: Hope for Women’s Rights Globally
- Pakistan has officially raised the minimum marriage age to 18, a landmark decision hailed as a significant step forward for women's rights in the contry.
- Jamshed Kazi,Pakistan’s representative for UN Women,described the passage of the bill as particularly meaningful given the current global climate. He noted a concerning trend of pushback against women's...
- According to a 2018 demographic survey, 29% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, with 4% married before age 15, according to Girls Not Brides, a global...
Pakistan elevates the minimum marriage age to 18, a pivotal moment for women’s rights globally, as the country aims to curb child marriage rates. This new law deems any sexual relations with a minor as statutory rape, with offenders facing potential imprisonment—a meaningful step amid worldwide regressions in gender equality. The move, highlighted by News Directory 3, aims to reduce the 29% prevalence of girls married by 18 in Pakistan, and address the inherent health risks, abuse, and lost educational opportunities.discover what’s next for Pakistan’s advancement of women’s rights and the enforcement of this critical legislation.
pakistan Raises Minimum Marriage Age to 18, Aiming to Curb child Marriage
Pakistan has officially raised the minimum marriage age to 18, a landmark decision hailed as a significant step forward for women’s rights in the contry. The new legislation stipulates that any sexual relations with a minor, even with consent, will be considered statutory rape. Adult men who marry underage girls could face up to three years in prison.
Jamshed Kazi,Pakistan’s representative for UN Women,described the passage of the bill as particularly meaningful given the current global climate. He noted a concerning trend of pushback against women’s rights and the renegotiation of previously established agreements on gender equality and reproductive health.
Child marriage remains a widespread issue in Pakistan. According to a 2018 demographic survey, 29% of girls are married before their 18th birthday, with 4% married before age 15, according to Girls Not Brides, a global coalition. Pakistan ranks among the top nations with the highest number of women married before reaching adulthood.
Early marriage often deprives girls of educational opportunities and increases their vulnerability to domestic violence, abuse, and various health complications. Child brides face higher risks during pregnancy, including fistulas, sexually transmitted infections, and even death. Teen mothers are also more likely to die from childbirth-related complications than women in their 20s.
Naseema Ehsan, who had her first child at 15, shared her personal experience with the challenges of early motherhood. She recounted experiencing pregnancy complications and being told by doctors that her youth was a contributing factor. Ehsan emphasized the impact on both her health and her daughter’s well-being.
I had complications during pregnancy. Doctors told me I was weak because I was very young, a child
Ehsan, who later completed her education privately, realized the importance of waiting to become a mother. She has since witnessed numerous cases of child brides dying during childbirth in Balochistan, where the legal marriage age was previously 16.In Pakistan, a woman dies from pregnancy-related issues approximately every 50 minutes.
Sherry Rehman, who introduced the bill in the senate, acknowledged the long and arduous journey to achieve this legal reform. She noted that previous attempts to pass similar legislation had been thwarted by parliamentary obstacles and religious opposition.
To see it defeated repeatedly, or not even make the agenda, has been one of the most tough parts of this journey
Despite the widespread support for the bill, some religious and political figures have voiced opposition, claiming the law is ”unIslamic.” They argue that marriage should be a family decision and that puberty should determine a girl’s readiness for marriage.
maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, secretary general of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl political party, stated his opposition to the law, adding, “This new law is unacceptable and unbearable. We will decide our course of action.”
Nadeem Afzal Chan, information secretary of the Pakistan people’s party, refuted these claims, asserting that the bill protects children’s rights and that the Balochistan government will soon enact laws to ban child marriages.
What’s next
With the passage of this bill, focus will likely shift to enforcement and addressing cultural norms that perpetuate child marriage. Advocacy groups are expected to continue pushing for broader social changes to support the new legal framework.