Aawaz II’s Legacy: Will Pakistan’s Reforms Shield Its Most Vulnerable?

In a nation where cultural traditions often clash with modern human rights imperatives, Pakistan is witnessing a quiet revolution in child protection and gender equality. Three key provinces—Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Sindh—have reaffirmed their dedication to sweeping reforms aimed at curbing child marriage, boosting birth registration rates, fortifying child safeguards, combating gender-based violence (GBV), and fostering social inclusion for marginalized groups. This commitment, highlighted during a pivotal National Learning Event on October 22, 2025, underscores a shift from pilot projects to nationwide scaling, driven by the UK’s Aawaz II programme. But with over 18 million girls at risk of child marriage and GBV affecting one in three women, the question remains: Are these reforms truly transformative, or do they risk stalling amid entrenched societal barriers?

The Aawaz II Legacy and Its Scalable Models

Launched in 2017 with UK funding through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Aawaz II programme has been a catalyst for change, reaching over 7 million people across 42 districts in Punjab and KP initially, with expansions into Sindh. What began as experimental interventions—such as Anti-Rape Crisis Cells, District Child Protection Units, and Women Protection Centres (WPCs)—has evolved into blueprints for provincial governments. These models address the stark realities: In Punjab and KP, surveys reveal that 25.8% and 43% of women aged 15-49 have endured physical violence since age 15, while child marriage rates hover alarmingly high, robbing girls of education and health.

The programme’s community engagement arm, led by partners like the British Council, has empowered local change agents through Social Action Projects (SAPs). These initiatives train community members to challenge harmful norms, with recent X posts from participants highlighting mindset shifts in rural areas. For instance, in Peshawar, religious leaders are now using mosques to discuss GBV prevention, a far cry from traditional silence on the issue. By integrating these efforts with local administrations, Aawaz II has not only piloted solutions but ensured their handover to sustainable government systems, marking a true handoff from aid to autonomy.

A Tech-Driven Shield Against Exploitation

One of Aawaz II’s standout achievements is its innovative digital birth registration model, which has facilitated over 3.5 million registrations since 2018. In a country where unregistered births leave children invisible to services and vulnerable to trafficking or early marriage, this tool—deployed via mobile apps in health facilities—has been a game-changer. Provinces like Sindh and Punjab, in partnership with UNICEF and telecom giant Telenor, now mandate uniform registration within 30-60 days, complete with affidavits for late filings.

The impact? Nikah registrars in Sindh are increasingly verifying birth certificates before solemnizing marriages, directly thwarting child unions. Scaled up by provincial governments post-2023, this system aligns with Pakistan’s Vision 2025 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16.9 for universal birth registration by 2030. Yet, challenges persist: Rural areas lag due to connectivity issues, and enforcement varies, with only 60-70% coverage in remote KP districts. As digital tools bridge gaps, they also spotlight the need for broader infrastructure to make every child’s identity a shield, not a shadow.

Cracking Down on Child Marriage:

Child marriage remains a scourge, disproportionately affecting girls in Sindh (highest prevalence) and displacing millions from education—over 22.8 million children out of school nationwide. The October 2025 pledges from Punjab, KP, and Sindh build on recent legislative wins, like the May 2025 Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act, which sets 18 as the minimum age for both genders, setting a federal precedent. KP’s cabinet has greenlit a mirroring draft, while Punjab eyes amendments to raise the age from 16 for girls.

These reforms echo Sindh’s 2013 Act, upheld by the Federal Shariat Court in 2022, which criminalizes unions under 18 with penalties up to three years’ imprisonment. Aawaz II’s role? Community sensitization and data-driven advocacy, including the 2023 Child Labour Survey in Punjab and KP, which informed policy tweaks. Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, speaking at the event, vowed long-term safeguards for the marginalized, but critics note uneven enforcement—fines rarely exceed PKR 50,000, and cultural pushback in tribal areas slows progress. With UN Women calling for harmonized laws across all provinces, including Balochistan, these pledges signal momentum, but true eradication demands cultural reckoning alongside legal teeth.

Battling Gender-Based Violence:

GBV casts a long shadow, with displaced women in KP and Balochistan facing heightened risks amid floods and militancy. Aawaz II’s Anti-Rape Crisis Cells and WPCs, now expanding province-wide, provide one-stop support: medical aid, legal counseling, and psychosocial care. In Punjab’s toll-free helpline 1043, all-women teams handle 24/7 complaints on domestic abuse and inheritance rights, logging thousands of cases annually.

Early Warning Systems, another Aawaz innovation, preempt conflicts in 42 districts by partnering with local admins to monitor tensions around GBV or exclusion. Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar emphasized at the event that protecting vulnerable populations is non-negotiable, aligning with UNFPA’s 2023-2027 plan to review GBV policies and empower survivors. Progress is evident—awareness campaigns have shifted behaviors, with mosque sermons in KP now addressing spousal abuse—but data gaps persist. The Pakistan Demographic Health Survey shows stagnant rates, urging more funding for frontline units amid economic strains.

Weaving Marginalized Voices into Pakistan’s Fabric

Exclusion of minorities, disabled individuals, and rural youth amplifies vulnerabilities, yet Aawaz II’s focus on cohesion has fostered inclusive dialogues. In SAPs, change agents from diverse backgrounds tackle intolerance, echoing UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, which mainstreams women’s leadership in politics and climate resilience. British High Commissioner Jane Marriott hailed the programme’s collaborative spirit: “From child labor surveys to 3 million birth registrations, Aawaz II proves what we can achieve together for a safer Pakistan.”

This inclusivity extends to IOM’s 2023-2025 Crisis Response Plan, prioritizing GBV mitigation for displaced groups in KP and Balochistan. Challenges like political divisions and resource shortages loom, but community testimonials on platforms like X underscore growing resilience: “We’re changing mindsets for a peaceful Pakistan,” shared one participant.

Aawaz II and Beyond

To visualize the strides, consider this breakdown of achievements as of October 2025:

These figures, drawn from programme evaluations, highlight scalable wins but also gaps—enforcement rates below 50% in rural areas demand urgent attention.

In wrapping up, Pakistan’s provincial pledges signal a beacon of hope in the fight against child marriage, GBV, and exclusion. Aawaz II’s handover to government-led models, bolstered by UN and UK partnerships, offers a roadmap for equity. Yet, as British High Commissioner Marriott urged, sustained collaboration is key to a “prosperous Pakistan for all.” For advocates tracking child protection reforms in Pakistan or gender equality initiatives in South Asia, these developments are a call to amplify voices on the ground.