Based on the organizational successful experience on Child Marriage, another project with Oxfam-Novib was initiated in September, 2015 with a special focus on Child Marriage. The aim of the project was to increase persistence among youth, caretakers and gatekeepers to respond effectively for the prevention, referral and rehabilitation of the victims/cases of early marriages.
The advocacy component of the project is initiated in all four regions of Pakistan while the community level interventions are initiated in two districts of Pakistan including Multan and Rawalpindi. The project will increase knowledge and awareness of young people and caretaker/ gatekeepers on prevention, referral and rehabilitation of victim of child marriages. It will further enhanced skills of duty bearers/gatekeepers to prevent incidence of child marriage through enforcing rule of law. Lobbying with like- minded religious leaders will also be conducted to ensure prevention of early marriage. Resources Developed on Child Marriage Developed Advocacy, Communication and Mobilization strategy in PCMI project. Developed Media kits on Child Marriage in English and Urdu. Posters/Brochures on importance of education, health and child rights in relation with Child Marriage were developed. Video Documentaries/Docudrama on Child Marriage, Radio/Cable Messages including Sana’s Journey and Noori goes Missing were developed and disseminated.
Sindh Assembly passed the Sindh Child Marriages Restraint Act, 2013 which placed a ban on marriage of children under 18 years and its violation is punishable by three years of imprisonment. In March 2015 Punjab Assembly passed an amended bill “The Punjab Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 2015 and made the law more punitive. However, the age issue of girls went unaddressed. Deputy Speaker AJ&K Assembly has also directed the Department of Law & Parliamentarians Affairs to incorporate proper amendments in existing child marriages laws. Provincial Assemblies of Balochistan and KPK has also initiated the process for reforms in existing laws on child marriage.