Pakistan stop child weddings: GElNEVA On Monday, UN rights experts expressed concern about a reportedly rising number of kidnappings, forced marriages, and conversions of young girls from Pakistan’s religious minorities, urging the government to quickly take “urgent steps” to stop such crimes from occurring.
The experts expressed their “great concern” at the reports of girls as young as 13 being taken from their families, trafficked to regions distant from their homes, forced to marry men who are frequently twice their age, and forced to convert to Islam.
We have serious concerns about the fact that these marriages and conversions happen under the fear of harm to the girls, women, or families of these individuals.
The experts requested that “urgent steps be taken to avoid and fully examine these activities” by the Pakistani government.
“UN rights experts call on Pakistan to take action on forced marriages, conversions, and child trafficking”
The United Nations special rapporteurs are a group of independent rights experts. They focus on modern forms of slavery, violence against women, and minority concerns. There are around a dozen of them.
Such inquiries, it stated, have to be conducted “objectively and by accordance with national law and international human rights commitments.”
According to the experts, who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but do not speak on behalf of the international body, family members say that victims’ complaints are rarely taken seriously by the police. Furthermore, they claim that the police either refuse to register these reports or argue that no crime has been committed by labeling these abductions as “love marriages.” Additionally, the experts said that this is a major issue and needs to be addressed.
Kidnappers often have their victims sign documents falsely attesting to their legal age for marriage. These documents also attest to the victim marrying and converting of their own free will. This is done to make the kidnapping and forced marriage appear legal.
The police have used these records as proof that no crime has been committed.
The experts emphasized how important it is for all victims to have access to justice. They also emphasized the need for all victims to receive equal protection under the law, regardless of their religious background. This statement highlights the importance of treating all victims fairly and justly, regardless of their background.
They urged Pakistan’s government to “implement and enforce legislation outlawing forced marriages, forced conversions, and child trafficking.”