Extreme weather is worsening child marriages in Pakistan

Child marriages in Pakistan are on the rise as extreme weather events like floods force impoverished families to marry off young daughters for financial survival.

Haroon Janjua reports for Deutsche Welle.

In short:

• Families displaced by floods in Pakistan are increasingly marrying off young girls to cope with economic hardships.
• Child marriages are often seen as a means of survival, with parents trading daughters for money to reduce household burdens.
• Rights groups urge stronger laws and education to combat the rise in child marriages driven by climate crises.

Key quote:

“These are marriages of survival prompted by the monsoon season and the reason behind marrying off a girl is to reduce the feeding costs at home during the climate calamity.”

— Mashooque Birhmani, founder of NGO Sujag Sansar

Why this matters:

As climate change intensifies, vulnerable populations, especially young girls, face growing risks of exploitation. Addressing child marriage requires urgent action to protect the rights and futures of these children.

Related:

• UN: Droughts hit women and girls hardest in vulnerable areas
• Extreme weather exacerbates refugee camp hardships
• Natural disasters disproportionally harm women in Australia