ISLAMABAD, 31 AUGUST: Child marriage in Pakistan is a reality. It is frowned upon on by the elite and discouraged by the majority yet it is socially acceptable as statistics point that 32 per cent of marriages are child marriages.
Poverty, tradition and low status of women are cited as obvious reasons for the grave violation of child rights. If ever the violation is challenged in the court of law under the Child Marriage and Restraint Act 1929 the punishment for the person in charge of the minor is as mild as a fine of Rs1000 or an imprisonment up to thirty days. The Pakistan Penal Code also prohibits the sale and under age marriage of girls.
Early marriages are far more prevalent in rural areas. A study by the Population Council found that 58 per cent rural females are married before 20. In urban areas the ratio is 27 per cent.
Sindh reflects the highest percentage of early marriage in females while Balochistan has the highest percentage of child marriage among boys. Punjab has the lowest percentage of child brides. Free education in rural areas and “Parha likha Punjab” could be a reason for furthering girls marriage by a few years. Studies show that there is a strong co relation between early marriage and lack of education. As education increases, so does the age at which a girl is married.
Reason for early marriage in Sindh is strongly linked to poverty. Bride price in rural Sindh generally ranges from 30.000 to one lac. Under age married girl from Sindh who have escaped from their matrimonial homes are commonly found in government shelters.
A recent case of three under five sisters from Sindh given in marriage as compensation is a prevalent form of child marriage as most girls given are children.
There was total consensus that child marriages must not be tolerated. But there was a dissenting opinion on early marriage by Dr Rakhshanda Parveen, a development practitioner, who advocated early marriage of young boys and girls.
She said that early marriage addresses the SRH needs (sexual and reproductive health) in socio culturally and religiously acceptable domain. – The social cost of late marriage in a selectively traditional society like ours is very high, she noted.
Kilder: The News (Pakistan) og The Push Journal
