Development Communication

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.