Kathmandu, 16 November: The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has come up with ‘National Strategy for Ending Child Marriage 2081’ with the aim of ending child marriage in different districts of the country.
Women’s Minister Nawalkishore Shah Sudi informed that the strategy has reached the final stage to prevent the problem of unsustainable married life due to child marriage, various health related problems when giving birth to children without maturity, gender violence, sexual violence, child labor, trafficking and other violence such as girls and women are further victimized.
“Due to illiteracy, weak economic conditions and lack of information about the problems that may arise from child marriage, children in rural areas are forced to marry before they reach the age, especially to put an end to child marriage in a practical way,” Minister Sudi said. Marriage or not is a natural right of every person and taking into consideration children’s education, reproductive health and children’s rights, the marriage of a person under the age of 20 is considered child marriage in Nepal.
Constitution of Nepal, National Children’s Policy, 2080; Criminal Code, 2074, Act on Children, 2075 and Regulations on Children, 2078; Local Government Operation Act, 2074, Strategy Against Child Marriage, 2072 and other laws are also being implemented to end child marriage. In order to ensure the rights and rights of children, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979, has committed to the implementation of the rights of children and women.
Nepal has accepted documents related to human rights and children’s rights, including the Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030). Out of the total population of Nepal of 20 million 91 thousand 64 thousand 578 children (up to 18 years) are 98 lakh 69 thousand 583 (33.84 percent). Out of which 51.8 percent are boys and 48.2 percent are girls. 36 percent of the total males are children and 32 percent of the total females are girls.
According to the Nepal Multi-Sectoral Cluster Survey, 2076, among the married people aged 20 to 24, 5.2 percent are under 15 (1.5 percent of males and 7.9 percent of females) and 22.7 percent are under 18 (nine percent of males and 32.8 percent of females). percent) are found to be married.
Ram Bahadur Chand, spokesperson of the National Child Rights Council, said poverty, neglect of children’s rights, responsibility and responsibilities not being carried out, children not being prioritized, lack of coordination, support, facilitation and cooperation, planning and programs in accordance with legal and policy provisions and implementation of child marriages. He said that it is the main problem and challenge.
NGO’s Role
NGOs in Nepal play a significant and multifaceted role in addressing the issue of child marriage. They are actively working to reduce and eventually eliminate the practice through a variety of approaches:
Awareness drama
1. Awareness Campaigns
- NGOs organize community-based awareness programs to educate the public, especially in rural and marginalized areas, about the harmful effects of child marriage on health, education, and well-being.
- These campaigns target both parents and children, emphasizing the importance of delaying marriage to allow girls to complete their education and achieve personal development.
2. Advocacy for Legal Reforms
- Many NGOs work to strengthen the enforcement of Nepal’s child marriage laws, which set the legal marriage age at 20.
- They advocate for better implementation of these laws at the local level and push for stricter penalties for those who engage in or facilitate child marriages.
3. Engaging with Communities
- NGOs often work directly with local communities to shift social norms and traditions that support child marriage.
- They engage community leaders, including religious figures and teachers, to foster a collective effort in rejecting the practice of child marriage.
- Some NGOs set up community-based monitoring systems to track cases of child marriage and intervene before marriages take place.
4. Providing Support Services
- NGOs offer support services to girls who are at risk of child marriage, including counseling, education, and safe spaces for those who want to escape or delay marriage.
- Some NGOs offer vocational training and scholarships to girls, empowering them with skills and education to avoid early marriage.
5. Legal Aid and Advocacy for Victims
- NGOs provide legal aid to those who have been married as children or are at risk of child marriage. They assist girls in seeking legal recourse and ensure they are not forced into early marriages.
- They also work with the government and international agencies to improve access to justice for victims of child marriage.
6. Collaborations with Government and International Organizations
- NGOs collaborate with local and national governments to create policies that address child marriage and provide necessary support to at-risk communities.
- They often partner with international organizations, such as UNICEF and UNFPA, to enhance the reach and effectiveness of their programs.
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7. Economic Empowerment Programs
- In many cases, economic insecurity is a driving factor behind child marriage. NGOs run programs that provide income-generating opportunities for families, particularly women, to reduce the economic pressure that may lead to marrying off daughters at a young age.
8. Monitoring and Reporting
- NGOs often track and document cases of child marriage to assess trends, impact, and the effectiveness of interventions.
- They also report to the government and international bodies on the progress and challenges of ending child marriage in Nepal.
These efforts, combined with the work of local and national governments, aim to reduce child marriage rates and ensure that girls are empowered to make decisions about their own futures.
