Child marriage has persistently been a grave issue in Pakistan. According to UNICEF, around 21% of Pakistani girls are married by the age of 18. Moreover, 3% Pakistani girls are married by the age of 15.
The Council of Islamic Ideology is to decide the minimum marriageable age for Pakistani girls.
Therefore, a sort of movement has begun on Twitter. People are using #RaiseTheAge to state facts about child marriage or raise awareness about it. This is all being done so that the Council can increase the minimum marriageable age to at least 18-years-old.
Some people are simply putting forward the demand for the age to be raised…
Can we ask the Council of Islamic Ideology to recommend increasing the marriageable age from 16 to 18? Today the Council will decide on this matter. Khartoum Declaration signed by Muslim countries makes this recommendation as well. #raisetheage
— Benazir Jatoi (@BenazirJatoi) January 17, 2018
The council of Islamic ideology is meeting today to decide the future & fate of young girls around Pakistan. They will decide the age limit at which these young ladies r allowed to get married. I hope they follow the international standard & make the age limit 18??#RaiseTheAge
— Shehryar Taseer (@shehryar_taseer) January 17, 2018
…while highlighting how persuading the Council could help.
Although not a legislating institute, the Council of Islamic Ideology has immense sway in both our public and private discourse. Please demand that they recommend increasing the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 yrs. #RaiseTheAge
— AreebahShahid (@AreebahShahid) January 17, 2018
Others are urging fellow concerned citizens to raise their voice.
Please raise ur voice against #earlychildmarriage using hastag #RaiseTheAge
— Aimen Arif (@aimenarif6) January 17, 2018
Some are asking people to mull over the age factor as far as marriage is concerned.
16 yrs old girl is just a kid. She needs to focus on her education and dreams instead of taking care of her husband and his family. #RaiseTheAge
— Mahrukh Arsalan (@Mahrukh_A_Khan) January 17, 2018
#raisetheage Teenage girls deserve good health, education and professional career ..
— Fatima Atif (@FatimaHazara75) January 17, 2018
While some are pointing out how child marriage is actually a form of violence.
Child marriage is form of violence. This is a mistaken belief of parents. Child marriage expose them to violence. We should stop making our boys misogynist. #raisetheage @SeharKamran @BakhtawarBZ @KenRoth
— sidra humayun (@Sid_huma) January 17, 2018
Moreover, some are even calling it a crime.
#childmarriage is a crime. Girls should get proper education to understand the life & to be independent. Women are not slave of men. Every girl should work hard to be at a position, to be independent, so that she live her life with respect. #raisetheage
— Ali Jafar Anwar (@AliJafarAnwar) January 17, 2018
which means that 21% of our girls are denied their right to be a child, to good health, to self fulfilment and life without fear of violence #raisetheage #puberty means physical AND mental readiness @qibla1 @srqazi @SenatePakistan @pid_gov https://t.co/kN5UU8lHay
— Valerie Khan (@valekhan) January 17, 2018
Some are surprised that this is still an issue in 2018.
It is 2018 why do we even have to ask for these rights?? Every girl has the right to marry AFTER 18 and WHEN she wants and WHO she wants to marry. It’s not someone else’s life to dictate rules for, it is the girls own life it’s her choice and freedom. #raisetheage
— Sundus Saeed (@SundusSaeed98) January 17, 2018
And others are asking some pretty valid questions.
If a person isn’t considered wise enough to cast a vote below 18, how can shehe get married #RaiseTheAge #Commonsense
— ABDUL MOEEZ MANZOOR (@moeezzzz) January 17, 2018
We do not consider a 16-year-old girl mature enough to drive a vehicle, manage a bank account, cast her vote in elections, or enter into any other kind of contract, but we think it is alright for her to contract a marriage? https://t.co/Dl9QQKib0w #RaiseTheAge
— meena gabeena (@gabeeno) January 17, 2018
Some people are also outlining important facts pertaining to child marriage.
Children born of teenage mothers are 50% more likely to either be stillborn (dead at birth) or to die within a few weeks after birth. Even if she survives pregnancy and delivery, she develops physical complications like fistula. #RaiseTheAge #StopChildMarriage
— meena gabeena (@gabeeno) January 17, 2018
Finally, some people just want children to enjoy their childhood.
#raisetheage let children enjoy their childhood.
— madeeha waheed (@madiya83) January 17, 2018
Robbing children off of their basic right to enjoy the initial years of their lives is plain cruel. However, it’s heartening to see Pakistanis unite to take a stand against this cruelty. The fact that child marriages still take place in our country cannot be denied. However, to bring down those numbers, we must push as much as we can to save our girls.
What do you think about this issue? Let us know in the comments.
Cover image via tribune.com.pk
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