End child marriage, empower girls
NCSW and UNICEF Launch “BOLO” Campaign to Eradicate Child Marriage
Shakila Jalil
Islamabad: In a groundbreaking initiative, the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and UNICEF have joined forces with UNFPA and UN Women to launch the “BOLO” (Speak Up) campaign, a nationwide crusade against child marriage in Pakistan.
With the aim of abolishing this detrimental practice, the campaign seeks to educate the masses about the perils of child marriage, engaging key stakeholders and fostering a collective understanding of its far-reaching consequences on girls, families, and national development.
Chairperson NCSW, Nilofar Bakhtiar, emphasized the need for a unified front, urging the government, NGOs, civil society, media, and other stakeholders to join hands in addressing this critical issue. The campaign comes as the Child Marriage Restraint Act is under discussion in Parliament, with hopes of raising the minimum age to 18 and mandating the presence of a National Identity Card for marriage.
The “BOLO” campaign is a clarion call to action, seeking to:
– Educate the public about the devastating impact of child marriage
– Engage key stakeholders and raise awareness about the importance of curbing child marriage
– Address the multifaceted drivers of child marriage and provide comprehensive support
Through collective efforts, this campaign aims to make significant strides towards eliminating child marriage and promoting gender equality in Pakistan.
