SOC Films, led by two-time Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and the Legal Aid Society have formalised a two-year partnership to tackle child marriage through a blended programme of storytelling, legal advocacy and community engagement, beginning in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The campaign will deepen public understanding of child marriage laws while addressing the social, economic and climate-driven pressures that drive the practice. Organisers say that despite existing legal frameworks, enforcement gaps, limited awareness and systemic pressures continue to leave many vulnerable children at risk, especially in communities facing financial hardship, displacement or lack of access to education.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy said, “Child marriage persists where silence and legal loopholes intersect. By aligning narrative with legal expertise, we aim to strengthen accountability and ensure protection is upheld in practice, not just on paper.” SOC Films will lead multi-platform storytelling and public engagement to spotlight enforcement gaps and the lived realities behind the statistics.

Haya Emaan Zahid of the Legal Aid Society added, “Child marriage is not just a social issue, it is a legal and human rights violation. Every child marriage is a childhood stolen. Through this partnership we are combining the power of law, media and community engagement to ensure enforcement, strengthen systems and fight for justice so that every child is safeguarded under the law.” LAS will drive rights-based interventions, legal awareness initiatives and policy engagement.

The two-year campaign will pair content creation with community outreach and legal support to focus on both enforcement and prevention. Activities include community-based engagement, awareness sessions on legal protections, support mechanisms for families facing economic or climate stress, and advocacy for closing loopholes that enable child marriage to persist.

Initial activities are under way in Sindh and KPK, with plans to expand work based on impact and stakeholder engagement. The partners emphasise that combining powerful storytelling with legal expertise can shift public understanding, strengthen systems and provide practical alternatives to families so fewer children are pushed into marriage.