By 
16-8-2024
Eleni Patlaka
Pakistan Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence
According to government data published in late 2023, Pakistan ranks 6th in the world in underage girl marriage. Although the situation has improved, climate-related economic insecurity, especially after the 2022 floods, has again reinforced child marriage practices.
In the aftermath of the summer monsoon, which lasts from July to September, many families, mostly from the rural Sindh region, live in fear. Hence many underage girls in marriage because of the constant bad weather, and food insecurity. In particular, in Khan Mohammad Mallah village, at least 45 minor girls have been married since the last monsoon.
In these cases, families choose to marry off their daughters to an older man for fear of the family not surviving. In this context, an exchange process follows where the minor girl is bought for a monetary reward. Thus the girls, having no other choice after the destruction of their families’ water and land resources, are forced to find a husband to ensure their survival, sacrificing their childhood and education.
Sources and further reading:
AFP Dawn, 2024. ‘Monsoon Brides’: Extreme weather fuels child marriages in Sindh. Dawn.com. Accessed August 16th, 2024 at <https://www.dawn.com/news/1852629/monsoon-brides-extreme-weather-fuels-child-marriages-in-sindh>.
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