The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) participated in a high-level Roundtable Discussion on Child Marriage, held today at Hotel Ramada Plaza, Karachi. The event was jointly organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women (SCSW), in collaboration with the Government of Sindh and under the broader initiative “Learning Across Provinces: Advancing Child Marriage Legislation.”
The roundtable brought together lawmakers, civil society representatives, law enforcement officials, and development partners to deliberate on the implementation of child marriage legislation and explore strategies to strengthen inter-provincial collaboration in ending child marriage across Pakistan.
Mr. Agha Fakhur Hussain, Secretary, Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), attended the event as Guest of Honour, representing the Commission. In his address, he reaffirmed SHRC’s unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of children and promoting gender equality across Sindh. He also commended UNFPA and SCSW for convening this timely and vital platform for policy dialogue and mutual learning.
“Sindh made history in 2013 by enacting the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, setting 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage,” said Mr. Hussain. “This law reflects our collective moral and social commitment to safeguard the dignity and future of every child—especially our girls. The challenge before us now is ensuring that this progressive law is implemented in both letter and spirit.”
While emphasizing the importance of enforcement, he noted that despite hundreds of FIRs registered between 2018 and 2024 under the Act, only a limited number resulted in convictions—highlighting the need for stronger institutional coordination, effective prosecution, and community engagement.
The event also acknowledged the Child Marriage Prevention Initiative (CMPI) launched by the Directorate of Human Rights, Government of Sindh, as a promising model of coordinated provincial action. In District Dadu, now declared a Model District, multiple departments—including Education, Police, Social Welfare, and Local Administration—are working collaboratively with local communities and religious leaders to prevent early and forced marriages.
Mr. Hussain also underscored SHRC’s complementary role through independent monitoring, data documentation, and policy advocacy, reaffirming that child marriage constitutes a violation of human rights, equality, and human dignity.
“Ending child marriage is not just a legal obligation—it is a moral and developmental imperative,” he said. “Protecting every girl’s right to education, health, and safety is essential to Pakistan’s sustainable and inclusive progress.”
The SHRC commended UNFPA, the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, and all distinguished partners—including Dr. Gulnara Kadyrkulova (UNFPA), Advocate Rubina Brohi (SCSW), Ms. Maliha Zia (Legal Aid Society), Ms. Farah Sohail (MPA Sindh Assembly), Mr. Faizullah Korejo (DIG Police), Mr. Usama Khawar Ghumman (Parliamentary Development Unit), and Mr. Golden Mulilo (UNFPA)—for their continued leadership and collaboration.
At the conclusion of the event, commemorative shields were distributed among participants and delegations in recognition of their contributions to the “Learning Across Provinces: Advancing Child Marriage Legislation” exchange program. “Together, through compassion, accountability, and inter-provincial learning, we can ensure that no child in Pakistan is deprived of her right to education, health, safety, and dignity because of early or forced marriage,” Mr. Hussain concluded.
