Girl dressed as a child bride walked for a fashion show in Pakistan. Here's why we should be clapping

This happened at Hum Bridal Couture Week 2017. Photo Courtesy: Instagram

The ramp was set. HUM Bridal Couture Week in Pakistan was going on in full swing. Models dressed in the most exquisite lenghas and shararas were sashaying down the runway. People were super impressed with designer Ali Xeeshan's collection. And then, it was time for the showstopper. People were expecting some popular Pakistani actress to walk the ramp at the end of the show. But, all smiles froze when a young girl dressed as a bride walked out. It took a few seconds for people to realize what was going on.

The young girl was wearing a blue and white salwar kameez. The ones that serve as school uniforms in both India and Pakistan. The gota patti work done to the dress did not take away from the fact that it was indeed a uniform, worn by children to school. In juxtaposition to attire, the girl was wearing a big nose ring, a beautiful maang tika, and her hands were painted with mehendi. Her hair was braided and tied white ribbon. On her shoulders was a school bag, with a rose garland around it. The tag of the bag read 'Power.' Needless to say, the girl was dressed as a child bride.

 

Ali Xeeshan makes it a point to be the voice of the fashion industry for a bigger cause. His glorious collection had a shocking show stopper: a child in a school uniform! Sending a message to prevent child marriage, he collaborated with @unwomenpakistan to create a stir in the industry. We’re signing the petition to stop child marriages. You should too. www.thebridaluniform.com/sign-petition/ #BridalUniform #alixeeshan #okmagazine #okpakistan

A post shared by OK! PAKISTAN (@okpakistan) on Dec 11, 2017 at 4:29am PST

According to a report published in Pakistani news website DunyaNewsTv, this was an attempt to make a statement symbolising the plight of girls who are married off at an early age. The young girl's presence in the fashion show aimed to highlight the problem and put an end to the practice of child marriage. Called the 'Bridal Uniform', the effort was a collaboration between UN Women Pakistan and Ali Xeeshan Theater Studio.

UNWP has started a powerful campaign #BridalUniform asking people to sign a petition that "could turn this conversation into a topic of discussion in the Parliament."

The #BridalUniform, showcased at the Bridal Couture Week, is a symbol to stop the tradeoff that takes places when a girl is deprived of her right to education and is married. Sign the petition and put an end to child marriages: https://t.co/6f3PyIWVj8 pic.twitter.com/u4OCipEKcC

— UN Women Pakistan (@unwomen_pak) December 14, 2017

"A girl walked the Hum Bridal Couture Week 2017 ramp wearing a school uniform embellished with bridal motifs; symbolising the unfortunate trade-off. Sign the petition and raise your voice to put an end to child marriages," tweeted UN Women Pakistan.

A girl walked the Hum Bridal Couture Week 2017 ramp wearing a school uniform embellished with bridal motifs; symbolising the unfortunate trade-off.

Sign the petition and raise your voice to put an end to #childmarriages: https://t.co/6f3PyJewaG

More: https://t.co/RsnjLiWFmv pic.twitter.com/owuwcAJrRe

— UN Women Pakistan (@unwomen_pak) December 11, 2017

In Pakistan, many popular faces have signed the petition. Here are a few:

Join us to help girls just be girls, not brides in their childhood. Sign the petition! https://t.co/zVxXRkEDqQ #BridalUniform #UNWomen pic.twitter.com/gbAU6VZzFk

— Momina Mustehsan (@MominaMustehsan) December 10, 2017

The UN children's fund says 21% of Pakistani girls are married by the age of 18, and 3% before 15. Child marriage tends to occur in the country's most marginalized and vulnerable communities, and has devastating consequences. Children who marry find their childhoods cut short and their education abandoned, as girls take on housework and boys struggle to provide for families they are too young to have. Married children become parents too soon, and girls face serious health risks, including death, due to early pregnancy. Married girls are also at higher risk of domestic violence, including marital rape, than women who marry later, reports Human Rights Watch.

Thus, in order to eradicate the concept of child marriages in the area, The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) have joined forces.

No community/country can thrive without proper education - for both girls and boys. Support this initiative. #BridalUniform #UNWomen #EmpowermentChampion Signature https://t.co/zLdSGi4Sgi

— Sana Asif (@Sana_Asif24) December 11, 2017