Child marriage, Global development, Pakistan, Society, South and Central Asia, Women, Women's health, World news
Pakistan sends ‘important signal’ of hope in a gloomy world of pushbacks on women’s rights
The city of Islamabad has moved to ban child marriage, which politicians say is a mark of the country bucking global trends to stand behind its women
During last week’s tense debate over whether the Pakistan senate should pass a bill banning child marriage, Naseema Ehsan stood up to speak. “I got married at 13 years old and I want child marriage to be banned,” said the 50-year-old senator.
“I was lucky to have good and affluent in-laws but most Pakistani women are not so lucky. Not every child has a supportive husband like me.”