Rising Issue of Child Marriage Due to Climate Challenges in Pakistan

In the aftermath of extreme weather events, such as the monsoon rains that plunged one-third of Pakistan underwater last year, women and girls are disproportionately affected. One of the issues that have emerged is the increase in child marriages.

Maryam Jamali, a 19-year-old who runs Madat Balochistan, an organisation working in rural areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces, has noticed that early marriage is influenced by lifestyle changes, migration patterns, and economic instability due to climate change. The slow migration of people to cities threatens the rural culture she grew up in, and the emotional toll of her work risks losing the life she knew as a child.

Dilmurad Lund and his family were among those who had to evacuate from their home in Sindh province and move into a camp for displaced people. In desperation, Lund sold off his cow and offered his two daughters, aged 10 and 12, for marriage in exchange for 45,000 Pakistani Rupees each. This heart-wrenching decision is not unique, as many families are pushed to make similar choices due to climate change.

Pakistan has the sixth-highest number of girls under 18 married in the world. Many girls as young as 9 or 10 are sent to urban areas to work as nannies or cleaners. Last year's floods in Pakistan washed away much of the upcoming harvest, homes, livestock, and health facilities, further exacerbating the situation. The floods will keep coming, displacing more families, and there's a high chance that another generation of girls will be sold into marriage if the situation doesn't improve.

More than 10 million people are still without safe drinking water six months after the floods. In flood relief camps, many women have given birth under open skies due to lack of access to healthcare. Over 130,000 pregnant women and girls were displaced during the floods.

Reetika Subramanian, a journalist and researcher, focuses on the connection between climate change and early marriages, particularly in India. However, it seems there is no available information about Mashooque Birhamani or his involvement in combating child marriage in Pakistan.

Jamali feels alienated when outsiders come to "help" but speak over local communities and impose their beliefs, hindering progress when it comes to implementing change. Relief workers often misinterpret practices in rural areas and have little space for giving women options, leading to narratives of "poor uncivilized women" and hindering progress in implementing change.

A young girl from Punjab, Pakistan, working for an affluent family in Karachi felt safe due to respectful treatment from the employer's husband, but had experienced mistreatment from other male employers. The girl's story underscores the complexities and dangers faced by young girls who are forced to leave their homes and families in search of work.

Jamali learned from a midwife that she'd be getting her daughter married early due to the money she would be paid, despite earlier expressing hope that her daughter would become a Lady Health Worker. The financial constraints brought about by climate change and displacement are forcing families to make difficult choices that have long-lasting impacts on the girls involved.

As the world grapples with the impacts of climate change, it is crucial to address the interconnected issues that arise, such as the increase in child marriages. By working together and listening to the voices of those most affected, we can work towards a future where every girl has the opportunity to reach her full potential.

Rising Issue of Child Marriage Due to Climate Challenges in Pakistan