Prominent minority rights activist Joseph Janssen has hailed the recent signing of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill by President Asif Ali Zardari as a “historic milestone” in the decades-long struggle to protect children’s rights in Pakistan.
Calling it a “major breakthrough,” Janssen lauded the legislation, which sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 years, as a vital step toward shielding young girls from exploitation and abuse. He credited the “relentless advocacy” of civil society, legal professionals, religious leaders, and human rights organizations for pushing the bill through parliament.
“This is a testament to the power of unified, persistent activism,” Janssen said. “It addresses a glaring legal vacuum and will have a real impact in curbing the scourge of child marriage.”
The bill was unanimously approved by both the Senate and National Assembly before receiving presidential assent—an indication, Janssen noted, of growing national consensus on the issue.
However, he voiced concern over the stalled progress of the Anti-Forced Conversion Bill, which he described as a critical yet missing component in the legal framework. Forced conversions, he said, often overlap with child marriage, particularly in minority communities.
“The absence of a federal law against forced religious conversions leaves lawyers to improvise with fragmented legal tools. The 2021 bill on the matter was derailed under pressure from religious political parties,” he stated.
Janssen stressed that “no more child brides should be legitimised under the guise of religious pretexts,” arguing that the protection of minors must transcend ideological divisions.
He called on the government to not only ensure the full enforcement of the Child Marriage Restraint Bill across all provinces but also to revive and pass the Anti-Forced Conversion Bill without further delay.
“Pakistan must act decisively to close these legal loopholes and protect its most vulnerable citizens,” Janssen concluded.