UN conference addresses forced conversions in Pakistan

A recent United Nations conference in Geneva, organized by the Jubilee Campaign, addressed the systematic rights violations against Christian and Hindu minority girls and women in Pakistan. The event, titled ‘Human Rights in Pakistan (Addressing Force Conversions and Child Marriage in Pakistan)’, focused on the crisis of abduction, forced religious conversion, and forced marriage.

Panelists and UN Special Rapporteurs discussed the widespread nature of these incidents, highlighting concerns regarding the implementation of existing laws. One specific case cited involved Maria Shahbaz, a 13-year-old Christian girl abducted in July 2025. Despite family efforts, a court in Lahore awarded custody to her captor after accepting falsified documents claiming she was 18, a decision later upheld by the Federal Constitutional Court in March 2026.