A minority rights organization in Pakistan has expressed serious worries about the prevalence of child marriage in Punjab province. The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) highlighted that 15% of children in Punjab are married before they reach 18 years old, emphasizing the impact on girls’ education and rights. The organization criticized the legal framework for perpetuating gender inequality by allowing marriage at 16 for girls and 18 for boys.
The VOPM raised alarm over the absence of robust legal protections, emphasizing the need for laws to safeguard vulnerable individuals. It questioned society’s response to injustices that are not directly affecting them and highlighted the normalization of gender inequality. The organization pointed out that opponents of reform often use religion to deflect criticism of child marriage, creating barriers to meaningful change.
The debate, according to the rights group, is not about faith versus law but about the nation’s responsibility to protect its children. It criticized loopholes in Pakistani laws that enable exploitation and provide cover for those seeking to exploit legal ambiguities. The VOPM stressed that child marriage not only causes physical harm but also leaves lasting psychological scars on individuals.
