Christian agencies working in Pakistan are welcoming a draft Bill now before the Parliament in Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province. The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Act is designed to prevent child marriages by raising the legal age for marriage for both boys and girls to 18 years.
Previously the age for girls was just six-teen. Its broader significance, if enacted, is that it should make it harder for Muslims to abduct and forcibly marry Christian girls, before then converting them to Islam.
Juliet Chowdhry of the British Asian Christian Association said: ‘Raising the female marriage age to 18 in Pakistan would provide crucial protection for all women. But Christian women are particularly vulnerable to forced conversion and marriage:
‘It would offer legal protection and redress. It would not only deter such practices, but also ensure that victims have access to legal redress and justice in cases where forced conversion and marriage have already occurred. It empowers women to assert their rights and seek legal recourse. It would help prevent exploitation, as Christian women in particular would be less likely to be entrapped in the sex trade.
‘Delaying marriage would empower all girls to gain education and skills, making them less susceptible to manipulation and coercion. This is especially important for Christian women, as they are most vulnerable to forced conversions and marriages. Finally, such new legislation would raise awareness across the board about the importance of protecting girls from forced conversions and marriages. It could lead to increased support from community leaders and members for initiatives aimed at preventing such practices.
