In the small village of Khan Mohammad Mallah in Sindh, Pakistan, Asifa was informed by her parents that her marriage had been arranged when she was just 13 years old. Initially, she was excited, thinking of new clothes, jewelry, and celebrations. However, she soon realized the reality of the situation – being married to an older man she didn’t know or choose, who was also in debt due to the dowry given to her family.
The decision to marry off Asifa was not based on tradition but desperation caused by the catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in 2022, leaving her family in financial ruin. With their fields destroyed and livelihoods shattered, her parents felt they had no choice but to marry her off, a trend that has been seen in many families in the area as a means of survival.
The rise in child marriages in the village can be directly linked to the impact of the floods, according to Mashooque Birhmani, founder of an NGO working to combat child marriage in the region. The changing climate patterns have exacerbated the situation, leading to what is now known as "monsoon brides", where young girls are married off in anticipation of the damage caused by erratic and severe monsoon rains.
The practice of child marriage not only deprives girls of their education, health, and futures but also goes against the legal age of marriage set by the government. Despite efforts to combat child marriage, the effects of climate change continue to push families to make difficult decisions for survival, at the cost of their children’s well-being. Nearly a quarter of girls in the Sindh region are married before the age of 18, with forced marriages increasing during catastrophic floods. Salwa, a mother, reflects on marrying off her youngest daughter during a crisis in 2010. Despite regrets, Salwa hopes her grandchildren break the cycle of early marriages. Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change exacerbates poverty and social instability, leading to more child marriages. The floods of 2022 devastated agriculture, displacing millions and causing significant economic damage. Sindh, prone to flooding, faces challenges in protecting young girls from early marriages. UNICEF warns that progress in reducing child marriages could be undone by the impact of natural disasters like floods. The ongoing debate among lawmakers in Pakistan highlights the need for further action to address child marriage. "One side advocates for strict adherence to legal marriage age requirements, while the other side argues that socioeconomic factors should be considered and each case should be evaluated individually."
A study conducted in 2023 by Ohio State University researchers, published in the academic journal International Social Work, highlighted the correlation between climate disasters and an increase in child marriages, especially in countries where such marriages are already prevalent. A 2020 report by Save the Children also pointed out that almost all of the 25 countries with the highest rates of early marriage are affected by conflicts, prolonged crises, and climate-related calamities.
In response to the rising number of "monsoon brides" in recent years, Sujag Sansar has initiated several community-based programs to address the root causes of child marriage. Founder Birhmani explains, "We work with religious leaders, teachers, parents, and young girls to establish support networks and resistance. Through artistic and cultural projects, we encourage dialogue and raise awareness."
Sujag Sansar organizes community theater and music performances in five districts in Sindh, providing a platform for discussion. By involving both men and women in these activities, the organization creates a space for reflection and dialogue, while also offering professional training to women and girls to help them achieve financial independence and mental well-being.
The story of Samina, a woman who was forced into early marriage at the age of 13, sheds light on the harsh reality faced by many young girls in similar situations. Despite the challenges she has encountered, Samina’s resilience and determination to speak out against child marriage serve as a beacon of hope for others in similar circumstances. Banyak rumah rusak karena banjir tapi orang-orang tidak punya cukup uang untuk memperbaikinya," katanya.
Kekurangan pekerjaan membuat suaminya stres dan Samina terpaksa bekerja menjahit sprei untuk memberi makan dan mendidik lima anaknya.
Korban banjir berjuang untuk mendapatkan bantuan makanan dari helikopter Angkatan Darat Pakistan selama operasi bantuan pada 13 September 2010 di dekat desa Goza di distrik Dadu di provinsi Sindh, Pakistan, menyusul enam minggu banjir yang menghancurkan [Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images]
‘Anak perempuan saya akan terlepas dari neraka yang saya alami’
Pada tahun 2024, ketika berita tentang 45 kasus pernikahan di bawah umur di desa Khan Mohammad Mallah menyebar, Menteri Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, memerintahkan penyelidikan untuk menentukan apakah pernikahan tersebut langsung terkait dengan banjir.
Agha Fakharuddin, direktur Departemen Hak Asasi Manusia untuk provinsi Sindh, kemudian menyimpulkan bahwa tidak ada kasus pernikahan anak yang dilaporkan dan bahwa berita tersebut adalah rekayasa. Mukhtiar Ali Abro, wakil komisioner Dadu, namun menyatakan bahwa meskipun pernikahan telah diatur di desa tersebut, itu hanya bagian dari tradisi lokal bukan akibat dari banjir.
Setelah kunjungan oleh pejabat pemerintah pada bulan Oktober 2024, bersama dengan perwakilan dari organisasi masyarakat sipil, Sujag Sansar mengatakan bahwa telah diamati penurunan insiden pernikahan anak, yang disebabkan oleh ketakutan akan konsekuensi hukum. Namun, mereka memperingatkan bahwa penurunan ini mungkin hanya sementara, karena penyebab utama pernikahan anak – terutama kemiskinan dan kurangnya kesempatan pendidikan bagi anak perempuan rentan – masih belum sepenuhnya diatasi.
Tahun setelah dinikahkan secara paksa, Samina sekarang tersenyum dengan rasa harapan yang baru. Meskipun dia masih menjahit sprei, seperti yang dia lakukan pada hari dia diberitahu tentang pernikahannya yang akan datang, hidupnya telah berubah dengan cara yang tak terkenali. Dia mengikuti kursus kerajinan dan berharap untuk memulai bisnis sendiri. Mengenakan dupatta merah dengan titik-titik putih kecil, ekspresinya tegas.
Dikelilingi oleh wanita muda lainnya yang, seperti dia, dinikahi terlalu dini, Samina tersenyum saat berbicara tentang masa depannya. Dia berharap dapat melanjutkan menjahit dan mendapatkan penghasilan sendiri.
Samina telah bertekad bahwa anak perempuannya tidak akan mengalami nasib yang sama. “Aku akan memastikan mereka mendapat pendidikan, sehingga mereka bisa terlepas dari neraka yang saya alami,” katanya.
*Beberapa nama telah diubah untuk melindungi identitas*