TIMES REPORT
PESHAWAR: A high-level provincial consultation was convened in Peshawar to deliberate on the passage of long pending Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2019.
The consultation was jointly organized by Blue Veins, Directorate General of Law and Human Rights, Child Protection and Welfare Commission, National Commission for Human Rights, End Violence Against Women and Girls Alliance, and Child Rights Movement.
The consultation brought together Members of the Provincial Assembly from both treasury and opposition benches, parliamentarians, including women representatives from religious parties, and representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Commission on the Status of Women (KPCSW) and Women Parliamentary Caucus. Key government departments, including Health, Police, Social Welfare, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Right to Information and Right to Services Commission, were also in attendance. Participants also included representatives from UN agencies, academia, students, youth activists, minority representatives, religious leaders, and legal experts.
There was a strong consensus on the urgent need to move forward with the legislation. Participants acknowledged that while certain areas of the bill may still require improvement, it has already been vetted and endorsed by the Law Department. Therefore, it was agreed that the bill should be pushed forward for cabinet approval and subsequent tabling in the provincial assembly without further delay. It was emphasized that any necessary amendments can be proposed during the legislative process by women parliamentarians and supportive male champions, rather than delaying its progression at this stage.
Maqsood, Director of Human Rights, and Ijaz, Additional Chief of Child Welfare and Protection Commission, stated, This legislation is not just a legal requirement but a moral obligation. We must ensure that no further delays deny protection to our children, especially girls who remain most vulnerable to early marriages.
Rizwan, representative of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), shared,From a human rights perspective, the passage of this bill is critical. It aligns with our national and international commitments to protect the rights and dignity of children.
Shazia Atta, Secretary KPCSW, highlighted,”Delays in legislation directly impact the lives of young girls. We must act collectively to ensure this bill reaches the assembly and translates into real protection on the ground.
Qamar Naseem, Program Manager, Blue Veins, stated: “The time for consultations is over what is needed now is decisive political action. This bill has already undergone legal vetting, and any further delay only prolongs the vulnerability of girls at risk of early marriages.
In a joint statement, Members of the Provincial Assembly, including Amna Sardar, Shazia Tehmas, Shazia Jadoon, and Meher Sultana, expressed their commitment, stating, “We stand united across political lines to support the progression of this bill. Protecting children from early marriage is a shared responsibility, and we will advocate for its passage and necessary improvements within the assembly.
The consultation concluded with a commitment to launch a robust advocacy campaign in the coming days to accelerate the bill’s approval process. Participants also signed a pledge, reiterating that protecting the rights, futures, and dignity of children, particularly girls, must remain a top legislative priority for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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