Pakistan child marriage crisis raised at UNHRC side event

Forced and child marriages involving minority girls in Pakistan were scrutinized during a side event at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Speakers addressed the severe impact these practices have on the education, health, and dignity of young girls.

Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, cited UNICEF data indicating that 90 million women and children in Pakistan have been affected by child rights violations, with 4.8 million of those being under the age of 15. Walter noted that less than 30 per cent of children who enter marriage have received a basic education and highlighted the high mortality rates associated with early pregnancy.

Additionally, Sindhi women’s rights activist Dr Shagufta Kandhro raised concerns regarding the situation in Sindh. Data from the National Commission on the Rights of the Child suggests that 84,000 children between the ages of 10 and 17 are currently married, widowed, or separated, often resulting in them leaving school and facing significant health risks.