ISLAMABAD – Saba Qamar, a renowned actress, on Friday lent her voice to a campaign launched by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) against children’ marriages in Pakistan.
As UNICEF’s National Ambassador for Child Rights, Saba Qamar has recorded a heartfelt video message for the campaign.
In the video, she urges people not to remain silent, asking, “Why should any child in Pakistan be forced into a marriage and future that they did not choose? Despite the health and educational risks, how can we ignore this without challenging it?”
Highlighting UNICEF’s efforts, Saba Qamar shared that she personally witnessed its positive impact last year in Sujawal district, Sindh, where she encountered real-life cases of change driven by UNICEF’s work.
She recalled meeting a 14-year-old girl named Anum Nazir, who successfully prevented three child marriages within her community. “These young champions give us hope for a better future,” Saba said.
Pakistan ranks sixth globally in the prevalence of child marriages, with nearly 19 million girls having been married before the age of 18. Alarmingly, about half of these girls become mothers before turning 18, putting their health and lives at serious risk.
Only 13% of married girls complete secondary education, compared to 44% among unmarried girls, drastically limiting their future opportunities.
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