Development Communication

Project No # 01

Title of Report:
Role of media in creating awareness against the trend of child marriage

Prepared By:

Submitted on: 6/Oct/2009

Student Name: Irfan Ramzan
Student Id: Bc08020011

Discussion Question

Study the role of media in creating awareness against the trend of child
marriage or “Vani” in Pakistan.

Introduction
We can call child marriage as “Early marriage”. Child marriage is terminating in many
cultures. But today, child marriage is only practices third world countries, where
cultural practices and tradition remain and have a strong impact on the people, and
where the living standard and condition stills create a strong incentive for child
marriage.
For Example:
It is still common in rural parts of Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and in Pakistan.
The phenomenon of child marriage is due to the number of causes that include gender
bias, gender discrimination, and notion of honor, poverty, poor knowledge myth and
misconception, lack of awareness of the law, and pressure from the older members of the
community.
Today mass media playing his role and creating awareness against the trend of child
marriage. NGO’s and National commission for Child welfare and development
(NCCWD) and government also help s and support the media to give the awareness
among the people about child marriage. In Pakistan the custom of child marriage is
prevalent in different parts including the tribal belt with different names. In Punjab it is
known as “Vani”, Sindh it is known as “Sang Chati”, Balouchistan it is known as “Ijai”,
and NWFP it is known as “Swara”.

What the “vani” tradition is all about? In Which areas of Pakistan, it is practiced
More?
As the child marriage was started 4000 years ago in the world. In Pakistan child have
different names in a different place like In Sindh child marriage is known as “Sang
Chati” In Punjab known as “Vani”, Balouchistan “Ijai” and in NWFP known as
“Swara”. The process of child marriage is increasing day by day. The main reason for
the child marriage is illiteracy, poverty. Another reason was lawlessness rampant in a
feudal culture where it was common for the big landlords to force young marriages on
the poor farmers. Child marriage is more practices in Interior Sindh, Balouchistan, and
NWFP and in Punjab. According to UNICEF report in developing countries 82 million
girls are between the ages of 10 to 17 are married before their 18th birthday. And in
Pakistan 25% women’s are those who are married before the age of 18.

Islam and Child marriage issue

According to the Islamic point of view women has the right to accept or reject the
married proposal. Her consent is a prerequisite to the validity of the marital contract,
according to the Prophet’s teaching.
Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of Allah, and she reported that her
father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the
choice. (Between accepting the marriage or invalidating it) (Ahmad, Hadith no. 2469).
So it’s mean that Islam also give the rights to women for accepting marriage proposal
and invalidating it.
In our traditional culture various pressures work on a girl’s mind and once she is
married off it is very difficult for her to repudiate that marriage. Thus the Quranic
principle is very sound and must not be sidelined in order to uphold traditional practices.
Most Muslim communities give priority to their own respective traditions than Islamic
principles and jurists, also coming from the same traditional cultures, and find ways to
justify such practices. And then these acquire the halo of Sharia law.

Constitution Says about Child marriage

In Pakistan, the legal Marriage Age is 18 for males and 16 for females; penal sanctions
for contracting under-age marriages, though such unions remain valid. For the
Marriage
Registration the penal sanctions for those in violation of mandatory registration
requirements for marriage; failure to register does not invalidate the marriage.
On about child marriage many constitutions are made some constitution which are
related with the child marriage are:
• Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929
(In this Act, the term child refers to a male younger
Than twenty-one, or a female younger than eighteen. A marriage falls under the scope
Of this Act if either of the contracting parties meets its definition of child.
• Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act 1939
• Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961
• (West Pakistan) Family Courts Act 1964
• Dowry and Bridal Gifts (Restriction) Act 1976
In 2002, the chief justice of Pakistan declared vani and swara as un-Islamic and
expressed concern over the rising number of these cases. The Chief Justices of high
courts were all given instruction to ensure that trial courts do not allow for a woman to
be given as compensation.
According to press reports, the Law and Justice Commission stated in March 2004, that
all individuals who contract a marriage by vani and swara through a jirga or panchayat
should be liable to rigorous imprisonment. The Commission also came out with a draft
amendment to article 366-C of the Pakistan Penal Code which states:
“Whosoever takes part in reconciliation or panchayat and thereby requires any person
to offer or accept, and whosoever offers and accepts in marriage a woman (defined as
having reached the age of 16) against her free will, or a female child in leiu of any
concession to an accused person, or as a compensation for an act when such an act is
an offence under the law, or as a Badl-i-Sulh shall be punished with imprisonment of
either description for a term which may be extended to ten years and shall be liable to
a fine”.

Media and Child Marriage issue

Media always supported the government and try to highlight every issue. Media also
highlight child marriage or vani issue in front of the camera. And according to survey
mostly these types of cases are happened in interior Sindh, Punjab, NWFP, and some
areas of Balouchistan. And it is due to the help of media that today we know that child
marriage have different names in the different location or cities. Dawn news many times
highlights the issue of child marriage. According to the Human rights report, in Pakistan
25% women’s are those who are married before the age of 18. Today media is playing a
positive role and creating awareness among the peoples against the trend of child
marriage. NGO’s and many politicians also support the media to highlight the
disadvantages of child marriage.
In 2003, Aurat foundation produced an eye-opening documentary on swara issues by
Samar Minallah. In Pakistan media is honestly highlight the issue of child marriage but
it is the duty of government to take action and stop child marriage. As vary as peoples of
Pakistan knowing about the reality of child marriage they will prevent from it.

Today the Child marriage is an issue that cannot be solved in isolation, as it is results
from a complexity of social, cultural and economic dimensions and widespread gender
discrimination. The causes and consequences of child marriage are inherently linked,
including girl's lack of autonomy and low levels of education, poor health status, poverty
and overall low socioeconomic status. According to my view as I suggested that while
there is no instant recipe or set prescription for ending Child Marriage, serious and
simultaneous efforts based on honest research and culturally appropriate solutions must
be attempted by Pakistan's civil society, public sector and Media in a coordinated
manner.

Reference:
Reference is taken from the book “early marriage a harmful traditional practice”,
“Early marriage child spouse”. And reference taken from websites.