Provincial Advocacy Campaign on Ending Child, Early, and Forced Marriage (CEFM) Together: A Day of Action, Engagement, and Impact
Review of the Child Marriage Restraint Act – Opening Remarks by SHRC Chairperson
At the recent session reviewing the Child Marriage Restraint Act, Mr. Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairperson of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), delivered compelling opening remarks. He thanked the organizers, panelists, and especially the youth for their vital role in raising awareness about the deeply rooted issue of child, early, and forced marriages.
He traced the origins of early marriage to tribal customs of the 16th and 17th centuries, when women were treated as property and communal or multiple marriages were common. Even globally, historic documents such as the Magna Carta (1215) excluded women from basic rights, highlighting how their voices have long been silenced.
Mr. Detho emphasized Sindh’s unique position: the only province to raise the legal marriage age to 18 following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, aligning with international human rights standards.
However, significant challenges remain. Forced marriages, coercion, and lack of informed consent continue to be widespread. Many marriages in Pakistan are still not based on free will, rendering them both ethically and legally invalid.
The SHRC is advocating for key reforms, including:
• Strengthened birth registration systems to accurately determine age
• Inclusion of CNIC details in Nikkah Namas
• Mandatory Nikkah registration
• Amendments to the Act to prevent courts from granting custody to husbands in cases of child marriage
Mr. Detho concluded by stating that any marriage involving a person under the age of 18 constitutes child marriage—regardless of cultural or legal justification—and must be addressed in the interest of justice and human rights.
