A human rights group has renewed its call for decisive government action to stop the forced conversion and coerced marriage of young Christian girls in Pakistan.
Minority Concern warned that the long-standing pattern of abductions and religiously motivated coercion continues to endanger minority communities across the country.
The appeal was made during the organisation’s annual gathering in Faisalabad on November 24, where members reported sustained violations despite national and provincial child-protection laws.
Minority Concern said it remains committed to defending religious freedom, safeguarding vulnerable groups, and ensuring that “all girls… live in safety, dignity, and freedom.”
Human rights groups and community organizations have documented “a disturbing pattern” over recent years, with Christian and other minority girls, “some as young as 12,” reportedly abducted, converted to Islam under pressure, and compelled to marry adult men.
Families seeking the return of their children often confront threats, social pressure, and legal obstacles, while perpetrators “frequently evade accountability due to gaps in enforcement, intimidation, and loopholes within existing laws.”
Director Aftab Mughal said the abuse strikes at the core of the victims’ rights, adding that the “coerced conversion and marriage of young girls is not only a violation of their religious freedom.”
“It is a violation of their childhood, their dignity, and their basic human rights. No child should be forced to change her faith or enter a marriage she does not choose,” he said.
Minority Concern noted that “birth certificates and age documents are often disregarded in court proceedings,” leaving victims unprotected even when evidence establishes their minority.
The organization added that families who seek justice commonly face intimidation, while religious sensitivities are exploited to block investigations and shield alleged offenders.
The group urged the Government of Pakistan to enforce child-protection, marriage, and anti-abduction laws “uniformly and without religious bias,” verify the age and consent of alleged converts, create specialised investigative units, and provide shelters, legal aid, and psychological support for victims.
It also pressed the state to “hold accountable individuals and networks involved in abduction, coercion, and child marriage.”
