AN ANALYTICAL STUDY ON EARLY MARRIAGE IN PAKISTAN: IMPACT ON EDUCATION AND HEALTH

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to reveal the impact on education and health the one who has been got married at very young age. Early marriage is still a challenge issue in developing countries especially in Southern Asia countries. Early marriage defines as a marriage in which a child is putting into marriage before the age of 18. Globally, according to UNICEF, 12 million girls marry before the age of 18 each year. If sustainable action is not taken seriously now, more than 150 million girls will become child brides by 2030. Although child marriage affects the health of both sexes, girls are either physically or mentally directly influenced on their health and also are deprived on their education because they are to leave from the school, the UNFPA’s report estimates that due to early marriage, the students of secondary level have decreased which is around 3.4% in 2017, is called a human rights violation. A million girls are suffering not only related to physical issues, but they are also making victims by double burden by stereotype practice which is totally destroying young girls' life. This paper talks about the element of culture factors behind the practice of Child Marriage that some culture exists in Pakistan which continues to perpetuate by practicing early marriage in most communities due to discrimination and inequality amongst boys and girls. Marriage customs vary in culture to culture and region to region. In Pakistan, child Marriage is exercised through old tradition such as “Watta Satta” means that girls are exchanged between two families, and “Pait Lekhi” means that a girl is engaged before her birth. In Pakistan, Marriage in nearest or distance relatives is very common which causes early marriage and sometimes not given the importance of education for girls. It is said that early marriage provides a girl’s honor and keeps pure. It will also be with the hope to examine the health implications on the life of the children.