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21pc girls in Pakistan become victim of child marriage, WHO reports
A recent report issued by World Health Organisation (WHO) has shed light on the issue of child marriages in Pakistan saying such practice is most common in rural areas. It further said that more than 140 million underage girls are likely to get married between 2011 to 2020.
According to the WHO report titled 'Demographics of child marriages in Pakistan', child marriage remains a serious concern in Pakistan, with 21 per cent of girls getting married before reaching the age of 18, especially in the rural areas.
Editorial: Child marriage bill
Formal marriage or informal union before age 18 occurs throughout the world, it added. However, being forced into marriage before one was able to give consent violates the basic human rights of boys and girls, the report said.
It further said that the percentage of child marriage remained high in Sindh, with 72 per cent girls and 25 per cent boys becoming victims to this menace, however, the highest number of girl child marriages were recorded in the tribal areas of Pakistan, with 99 per cent girls married under this unlawful traditional practice.
Comments (13) Closed
A very serious matter that only can be solved by the will of the people to do so. Education, law enforcement, and leadership by the government of the day. By the opposition of the day. Leadership...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
Very interesting. Who will decide the marriageable age of girls now. WHO. Has anyone even talked about the number of teenage pregnancies out of wedlock in Europe and USA. Now for discussion sake, if that is taken as normal in their society, why would someone object to " underage" marriage in Pakistan.
The only solution to this problem: - Providing education to all (No Child Left Behind) - Continuous economic development with benefits reaching to masses living below poverty line. Quite a task.
Destroy this unlawful practice and enforce it. Instead, provide an enabling environment for girls to educate.
Yes, so say's a corrupt organisation like the world health organisation who decide what the percentages of corruption are in other countries. No one is saying there are not wrongs are not going on in Pakistan, yet how do they decide these findings? Where did they find this data? Pakistan need to develop their own findings and don't need the world health organisation to dictate to them about what is wrong with them or other countries. We all know these institutions are colonist methods to control us.
I don’t agree with these statistics. 22% means almost one in every four girl is forcefully married under 18 years of age. Dr Shireen Mazari must have this rpoft double checked as it sounds fishy and intentional propaganda against Pakistan.
This is disgusting
I think 21% is rather an exaggerated figure.
This is disgusting ! Does anybody or any adults in the FATA or rural areas even read the Dawn n ????
simply collecting the data and compiling is nothing unless other vectors like our cultural and tribal system must be looked upon, other wise its just to malign the country.
Arrest all the molvis.
Just the name Child Marriage sends the chills down the spine.WHO's Report is quite embarrassing and shameful for Pakistan Internationally.The Govt.and the Provincial Governments must come up with stern punishment for the adults who indulge in these practices and deprive the innocent girls of their childhood.All this is prevalent because of illiteracy in the country.
Child marriage is a great misnomer. Let us call it what it really is: Child Slavery...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada