NCSW) statement on recent LHC judgment, which ruled marriage is valid if the person has attained puberty, even if they are below the legal age

Mon, September 29, 2025

#PakistanJusticeWatch National Commission on the Status of Women, Islamabad (NCSW) expresses its deep concern over the recent judgment of the Lahore High Court upholding the marriage of a 15-year-old girl on the basis of attainment of puberty, despite the minimum age of marriage being set by law.

Child marriage is a grave violation of the rights of girls and a form of gender-based #violence. It perpetuates cycles of poverty, illiteracy, and ill health, undermining the future of Pakistan’s young #women and girls.

Girls married at or soon after puberty face serious health risks, as their bodies are not prepared for early pregnancies. Early childbearing is linked to high rates of maternal mortality, obstetric complications such as fistula, premature births, low birth weight, and infant mortality. Adolescent brides are more likely to suffer from malnutrition and anemia, with little to no access to reproductive healthcare. Alongside these physical dangers, they are also exposed to heightened risks of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and deep psychological trauma from being forced into adult responsibilities while still children themselves.

#Pakistan is bound by its Constitution, which guarantees #equality and protection from exploitation (Articles 25 & 35), and by its international commitments under CEDAW, CRC, and SDGs, all of which obligate the state to eliminate child marriage and safeguard the rights of girls.

NCSW reiterates its consistent position that the legal age of marriage must be standardized at 18 years for both girls and boys across all provinces and territories. NCSW emphasizes that setting and enforcing a clear statutory minimum age of marriage is essential to protect children from coercion, abuse, and exploitation, and to ensure their right to education, health, and development.

The Commission calls upon:

• The legislatures and provincial governments to urgently harmonize and enforce laws setting 18 as the minimum marriage age nationwide.
• The judiciary to interpret laws in the spirit of Pakistan’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations.
• All state institutions, civil society, and religious leaders to join efforts in #EndChildMarriage in Pakistan.

Child marriage is not only a violation of law; it is a violation of dignity, equality, and justice. NCSW stands committed to working towards standardization of minimum marriageable age across Pakistan.

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