Multan Workshop supports to end child marriage and gender-based violence during 16 Days of Activism, Multan

Thursday 6 November 2025 — Speakers at a workshop on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Multan emphasized that child marriage is a major driver of gender-based violence (GBV) and serious health complications for women and girls in Pakistan. The event was organized in connection with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, observed annually from 25 November to 10 December, to highlight the urgent need for stronger action to end early and forced marriages.

The workshop was organized by Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA) in collaboration with the District Social Welfare Office, Multan. It is part of a three-year project titled “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” implemented by PODA in 41 districts of Punjab. The project is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Islamabad.

PODA Coordinator Sumera Sattar stated that communities across Punjab province and all stakeholders have reached a consensus to end under-18 marriages of girls, ensuring their constitutional rights to education and health are protected

Defining the scale of the challenge, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates Pakistan is home to over 19 million child brides, and that around one in six young women were married before the age of 18. The UNICEF-Pakistan profile further shows that some 4.8 million girls were married before age 15.

Ms Qurat-ul-Ain from the Department of Health and Population highlighted the grave health implications of child marriage, noting that early-age pregnancies often lead to malnutrition, anemia, uterine damage and lifelong reproductive health challenges. “Her learning stops, she is isolated from her family, and with low hemoglobin, she faces severe pregnancy risks,” she said.

Sumaira, Education Officer (Secondary), stressed that education is the most sustainable way to empower women and protect their rights. “An educated girl is more aware of her rights and better equipped to make decisions for her future,” she stated.

Abdul Sattar, UC Secretary from the Local Government Department, urged the government to set 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage for girls and to make the National Identity Card mandatory for Nikah registration.

Participants emphasised the need to raise awareness of constitutional and fundamental rights at the community level and called for coordination among departments to end violence rooted in early and forced marriages.

The workshop concluded with a call to the Punjab Assembly to adopt legislation increasing the minimum age of marriage for girls to 18 years and to ensure strict enforcement of child protection laws. Participants pledged to continue awareness efforts within their communities to end gender-based violence.

Senior government officials from the Departments of Health and Population, Social Welfare, Education, Violence Against Women Centre and Local Government, along with representatives from the media, civil society activists and lawyers, attended the session.