Child Marriage

Child marriage (also called forced and early marriage) refers to a practice where children are married off at an earlier age than the internationally recognised legal age of 18. Early marriage affects both young girls and boys, although it does affect girls disproportionately; it hinders access to education and professional development, dashes aspirations, and results in violence against these young children. It is therefore a fundamental violation of human rights.  Layla Hameedi chats with Marvi Memon, who has championed the cause both within Pakistan and Internationally, after her 2014 bill on child marriage opened up a national debate on this widespread vulnerability.