The side event at the 63rd UN Human Rights Council in Geneva drew over 50 delegates, with Naveed Walter opening by citing UNICEF data on widespread child marriage.
Shagufta Kandhro, a Sindh-based women’s rights activist, highlighted that 84,000 children between 10 and 17 are married, widowed or separated, and that 21% of young women in the province marry before 18.
Health officials warned that the province records 61,000 teenage pregnancies annually, yet only 44% of pregnant girls receive the minimum four antenatal visits, while anemia rates hit 61.9%.
Both speakers urged the council to adopt a resolution that would enforce stricter enforcement of the Child Marriage Restraint Act and increase access to education and maternal care.
The council will vote on the resolution next week; meanwhile, a 13‑year‑old girl from Karachi escaped an arranged marriage, hoping the new rules protect her future.