Empower 100 Child Brides in Pakistan

“I would like to say thank you for your kind and generous support to me and this will enable me to bring my daughter from my ex-husband otherwise he will exchange her for his own marriage.  I will not marry her until she will be 18 or above”, said by a victim of Child Marriage. She also promised to work actively against Child Marriage and inform if an event of child Marriage will occur in her community.

“I was married when I was 12 or 13 years old with 50 years old man who is like my father as exchange marriages” telling Fatima (not original Name)  her story who is 26 years old now. She said, “My old husband abused me physically and mentally and I did not protest as I was a child and this was common practice in the area to make torture their wives and daughters. My daughter is about 11 years old and living with my mother while two year son is with me.”

The Horrible story reveals that her husband who is now 62 years old divorced by saying/calling to Fatima as “Mother”.  Fatima got married again after releasing from Jail type home.  Her new husband's 1st wife has already died during delivery (He and her ex-wife both were Children when they got married). Fatima said, “She left 3 kids and I am caring them along with my own son. My step children love me and I care them without any discrimination”.

"I recieved sewing Machine from Jaag Welfare Movement for me and my husband who is trained tailor. We are sewing clothes both male and female". 

Child Leaders can contribute to End Child Marriage

“I am not weaker nor Weakest, the world is because of me and I am the Universe”, said by Ayesham a Child Rights Activist, who is proud to be a girl and just because of enlightened and impressed by Malala Yousafzai, Asma Jehangir, Benizir Bhuttu and Arfa Kareem. She said, "the meaning of my name is “the light of Full Moon” and I will touch the sky by spreading light of Knowledge in the world and I will strongly condemn the Child Marriages”.

Ayesham Age 12, grown into the rights movement and attended many events and raise her voice at different stages for the promotion of Education, Interfaith harmony, Science and Child Rights. She visited a school where annual results were going to be announced. She spoke there and said, “When I see the girls of my age, taking the responsibility of mothers, I shiver with fear to find myself at their position. I felt for a moment that if my fate dropped me in this village then what will be my future. I met Ameena Bibi, Sobia Mai, Shazia,  Kalsoom and other girls in Village 229-P where Ameena Bibi is now married while she is 13 years".

Ayesham said in the speech at Prize Distribution ceremony, “It is not myth or story or a past tale that girls are to be married at the age of 12 or 13 years, it is in real. In that village a girl of 7 years knows her fiancée name. All these things were bitter truth which reveals during the meeting with these girls. On that day I promised to speak out against the issue of Child Marriage and in favor of promoting education.

Other Activities

In this quarter, under the project of “Empower 100 Child Brides in Pakistan”,  Jaag Welfare Movement initiated a Campaign for enrollment of Girls in schools and awareness raising regarding the new laws pertaining to Child Marriage & Child Labor, Inheritance, and women empowerment.

Enrollment Campaign

200 Banners displayed at prominent places for discouraging Child Labor at brick kiln, Child and forced Marriage. In the response of campaign many girls were enrolled in schools.

Awareness raising on Women Empowerment

200 Banners displayed for the awareness raising regarding new initiatives of government for protection of Women and their empowerment. The project arranged puppet show on the issue of Child Marriage in Grand Flower Show organized by District Government. Pamphlets were also distributed. 5 women were given legal assistance and moral support with media coverage for their protection and claiming inheritance rights. These women are now empowered and became role model for others that how can be inheritance rights assured.