This event brings together activists and organisations to discuss the challenges faced in prohibiting child marriage across the state of Karnataka. The objective of the consultation will be to identify solutions which allow for the realisation of reproductive and related rights of children, especially adolescent girls, and women, who are adversely affected by child marriage.

Karnataka Amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act, 2006 (PCMA)

In 2016, the Karnataka government introduced an Amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA). Amongst other features, the 2016 Karnataka Amendment declared all child marriages to be void ab initio. Nevertheless, it is unclear how the Amendment is to be implemented and Rules need to be framed to clarify the working of the Amendment. There are also on-going challenges with the overall implementation of the PCMA which needs to be addressed. In 2018, during an event held by CLPR and CRR at the Karnataka Judicial Academy, the Department of Women and Child Development invited inputs by civil society into the development of rules for the Amendment.

Making Recommendations to the Department of Women and Child Development  

This consultation will bring together activists and organisations who are working on children’s rights and women’s rights, and child marriage, in particular, to discuss contemporary challenges and identify solutions to promoting a rights-based approach to ending the practice in Karnataka. The consultation will also serve as an opportunity to deliberate on making submissions and recommendations to the Department of Women and Child Development to strengthen the PCMA and frame Rules, for positive rights-based action on child marriage in the state.

AGENDA