Minority rights activists laud passage of Child Marriage Restraint Bill

Islamabad: Minority rights activists have welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill by President Asif Ali Zardari as a landmark achievement and the result of years of tireless advocacy to end child marriage in Pakistan.

The law, signed on May 29, 2025, sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 and was passed by both houses of Parliament, despite strong resistance from religious political groups.

“This is a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s journey to protect its children—especially young girls—from forced and early marriages,” said Joseph Janssen, a minority rights activist with the Jubilee Campaign. “The passage of this bill is not just a legal milestone—it’s the result of over a decade of relentless advocacy by civil society, legal professionals, religious leaders, international partners, and human rights defenders.”

Janssen emphasized that the bill is a major step toward ensuring girls’ rights to education, health, safety, and freedom from exploitation. “This legislation is more than a legal reform—it is a national commitment to our girls,” he said. “We urge the government to enforce this law consistently across all provinces,” he added.

Janssen also reiterated the pressing need for the federal Anti-Forced Conversion Bill, noting that it has faced repeated obstruction since 2021.