Early girls' marriages: need for further amendments in draft legislation stressed

Members of civil society organisation at consultative dialogue have expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed draft of legislation for forbidding children under the age of 18, stressed the need of further amendments in the draft with consultation of the legal experts and Ulema to make it more effective.
The consultative meeting was arranged by Blue-Veins, a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Action-Aid Pakistan here at local hotel, which aimed at to create harmony between government relevant institutions and civil society organisations on this crucial issue. In thoroughly discussion, the participants expressed dissatisfaction over the draft legislation policy on early girls' marriages for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, asked to make necessary changes with consultation of retired judges, lawyers and Ulema to further bring improve in it.
The participants said that the early marriages of girls is a global issue, which can be handle by creation of proper awareness and legislation at both country and globally. They termed that issue was great impediment in way of progress and development. The participants informed that according to a rough estimate, 60 million girls were married below age 18 year globally.
"We should learn from past weakness and mistake, and make a joint strategy to get desire result and objectives", said Zahoor Bano, a representative of Action Aid. She further added that a concrete co-ordination system should be devised with the newly-elected provincial lawmakers to make better legislation for prevention of gender-based sexual violence against women.
Ejaz Khan, a representative of Provincial Commission on Child rights, said that the commission and relevant government institutions along with civil society organisations were jointly making efforts for elimination of early girls' marriages. The Blue-Veins, Programme Co-ordinator, Qamar Naseem highlighted the role of Ulema for creation of awareness on the early girls marriages issue. He informed the consultation process began with Ulema in this regard.