Civil society organizations were unanimous in their demand for protecting young girls from early age marriages. This demand was raised from the platform of National Conference on the Impact of Girls’ Early Marriages held in Islamabad on March 20, 2012. It was jointly organized by Bedari, Awaz CDS and Action Aid. It was attended by members of civil society, media, community members from Attock and Chakwal, and students of various universities.

The conference started with a welcome note by Ms Rukhsana Shama. Bedari Theatre Team performed its play “yeh shadi nahi ho sakti”. The play highlighted the need for amending the Child Marriages Restraint Act 1929.

The conference consisted of three panels. The first panel focused on the Social, Psychological & Sexual Reproductive Health Impact of Girls’ Early Marriages. Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen, Ms Nabila Malick, Zia ur Rehman and Saleem Malik spoke on this issue and answered the questions raised by the audience. Ms Malick explained that there is a need for the NGOs to make joint efforts. She further explained the reasons behind the practice of early marriages as poverty, and anti-women customary practices as vani, swara, and sang chatty etc. Dr. Rakhshinda Perveen focused on the need for discussing these issues in the society, and emphasized the need for dissociating sexuality from marriage.  

In the second session, the discussion was focused on the need for amending the Child Marriages Restraint Act 1929. Ms Humaira Masihuddin gave a brief overview of the law. She stressed that the law has many deficiencies including low punishment and very cumbersome process for the initiating legal proceedings. Dr. Naeem Mushtaq explained the religious point of view on girls’ marriages. He emphasized that our focus should not remain on establishing the age of marriage, but we need to ensure that every girls grows up as a well-educated and well-groomed woman who can nurture a good family and can take care of her children. He said that only educated mothers can provide us educated men to run the affairs of our country. Mr Qadeer Baig also highlighted the need for incorporating lessons on sexual and reproductive health in our curriculum.  

The third session started with the real life stories of women victims of early marriages. Women from Swabi, Mardan and Rawalpindi narrated their ordeal and told the audience about the problems they faced due to getting married at such an early age.  

Later, Ms Musarrat Shafi explained that the right to life is threatened. We need to make our society safe for our women and children, who are under threat from terrorists. Only then we can move forward towards the agenda of social change. Ms Saeeda Iqbal assured the audience that she would provide all the necessary support for passage of laws. She, however, explained that such subjects are under the purview of provincial governments, and the national parliament cannot legislate on such issues. There is a need to raise this issue before provincial parliamentarians.

A Resolution was passed making following demands: