Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ UN human rights experts expressed concern over the reported increase in forced child marriages, abductions, and conversions of young girls in Pakistan. These girls generally belong to Pakistan’s religious minority. The UN experts also asked the government to immediately address the issue and put an end to these practices. The experts voiced grave worry over the stories of 13-year-old girls being abducted from their families, trafficked to faraway locations, forced into marriage with men who are typically twice their age, and forced to convert their religion to Islam.
Child marriage is defined as the marriage of a girl or boy under the age of 18 and includes both legal weddings and informal partnerships in which minors under 18 live with a spouse as if they were married. Child marriage impacts both boys and girls, but disproportionately impacts girls in South Asia. South Asia records the world’s highest number of child marriages. Nearly half (45%) of all 20 to 24-year-old women reported getting married before the age of 18. Almost one-fifth of girls (17%) get married before the age of 15.
According to the experts, the fact that such forced marriages and conversions are causing serious harm to these girls, women, and their families raises grave worries. They also urged the Pakistani government to take immediate measures in order to prevent and thoroughly investigate these abusive acts against young girls. Among the twelve independent United Nations rights experts are the special rapporteurs on contemporary forms of slavery, violence against women, the sale and sexual exploitation of children, and minority issues.
According to the expert group, such investigations must be performed objectively and in accordance with national law and international human rights commitments. The experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but do not speak on its behalf, highlighted results indicating that Pakistan’s legal system supports crimes against young women and girls from religious minorities by accepting bogus evidence without conducting a rigorous inquiry.
According to the statement from family members, “The police rarely take victims’ complaints seriously, either refusing to record these reports or claiming that no crime has been done by labeling these abductions as ‘love marriages’. According to the statement from experts, “Kidnappers often make their victims sign papers that fraudulently testify to their being of legal age for marriage as well as for marrying and converting of free choice.” These records have been utilized by the police as evidence that no crime has been committed.
The experts highlighted the need for all victims to have equal access to justice and legal protection, regardless of their religious background. They also stated that the nation’s authorities must establish and enforce laws against forced child marriage, forced marriages, forced conversions, abduction, and trafficking. Indicating Pakistan’s earlier efforts to impose law that prohibits forced conversions and protects religious minorities, the experts expressed worry that victims and their families continue to lack access to justice.
According to reports, these forced weddings and conversions occur with the assistance of religious leaders, security personnel, and the legal system. Child marriage breaches children’s rights and exposes them to heightened dangers of violence, exploitation, and abuse. India has the highest number of brides in the world, accounting for one-third of the worldwide total. Bangladesh has Asia’s highest child marriage rate, and the fourth highest rate in the world. Nepal also has one of the highest rates of child marriages in Asia.
The UN experts concluded by saying, “Pakistani authorities must adopt and enforce legislation prohibiting forced conversions, forced and child marriages, kidnapping, and trafficking, and abide by their international human rights commitments to combat slavery and human trafficking and uphold the rights of women and children”.
