Highlighting the plight of religious minorities in Pakistan, a human rights group in a fresh report laid bare the rising number of cases of abduction , forced faith conversion, forced and child marriage of girls belonging to the minority Christian community.
The report examined 100 reported cases involving abductions, forced faith conversions, forced and child marriage of girls and women from the Christian community across Pakistan.
He observed that forced conversions are linked with the state’s abject failure to implement and enforce existing laws that aim to stymie abduction, child marriage and forced marriage, especially where the victims are from religious minority communities.
The executive director of the Jubilee Campaign, Annigje Buwalda said the report presents an analysis and findings about the confluence of intersecting vulnerabilities of minority girls and their families, exploitable legal loopholes, and irreconcilable court verdicts that make it so difficult for susceptible faith minority communities to protect themselves.
She added that the report will serve as a vital tool to further galvanise action to eradicate forced conversions and child marriages in Pakistan and advance children’s rights.
The report stated that there is a strong correlation between reports of forced conversion and child marriage.
It added that frequent reports of forced conversion are linked with the state’s abject failure to implement and enforce existing laws that aim to stymie abduction, child marriage, and forced marriage, especially where the victims are from religious minority communities.