Child Marriage in Nepal

Child marriage usually refers to a social phenomenon practiced in some societies in Nepal, where a young child (usually a girl below the age of eighteen) is married to an adult man. Nepal is a developing country filled with norms and values. However, some bad practices are still residing here within the nation, some of them include: Deuki Pratha, Untouchability, Gender Discrimination, Ghumto Pratha, Child Labor, Jhumma Pratha, Girls Trafficking, Dowry and dowry-related violence, Gambling, and Child Marriage has always been one of them. Another form of child marriage practice is that the parents of the future bride and groom arrange a future marriage.  In this kind of marriage girls and boys do not meet until they reach their marriageable age.  Child marriage constitutes a gross violation of human rights, leaving physical, psychological, and emotional scars for life. Sexual activity usually begins shortly after marriage, and early pregnancy and childbirth can lead to the death of both the mother and the baby. In addition, girls and women who marry at a young age are more likely to experience domestic violence at the couple's home.

In Nepalese society, men are often considered superior to women.  Although there have had made different laws and policies, the custom is still prevailing in the society.  According to Nepalese law, the minimum age of marriage under Nepali law is 20 years of age, but 37% of Nepalese girls marry before the age of 18 and 10% are married by the age of 15. (source: https://www.hrw.org/report/child-marriage-nepal). Boys also often marry young in Nepal, though in lower numbers than girls. UNICEF data indicates that Nepal has the third-highest rate of child marriage in Asia, after Bangladesh and India. 

In ancient and medieval societies, it was common for girls to be betrothed at or even before the age of puberty. Later, there was a decrease in the rates of child marriage across South Asia from 1991 to 2007, but the decrease was observed among young adolescent girls and not girls in their late teens. Child marriage has been illegal in Nepal since 1963 and, after 20 years old both men and women can get married. Nepal has one of the highest legal ages of marriage in the world where arranging a child marriage or marrying a child is punishable by law. Although strong on paper, the laws are not properly enforced and child marriage rates remain high. A UNICEF discussion paper determined that 79.6% of Muslim girls in Nepal, 69.7% of girls living in hilly regions irrespective of religion, and 55.7 percent of girls living in other rural areas, are all married before the age of 15 (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriage). Girls born into the highest wealth quintile marry approximately years later than the ones from the opposite quintiles.  Child marriage has lasting consequences on girls, from their health (mental and physical), education, and social development perspectives. These consequences last well beyond adolescence. One of the most common causes of death for girls aged 15 to 19 in developing countries was pregnancy and childbirth. Girls are more disproportionately affected by the practice than boys. 

Child Marriage can be highly observed in the Rural and Terai region of Nepal such as Janakpur, Bardibas, Dhanusa, etc. Some of the main factors including poverty, lack of access to education, child labor, social pressures, and harmful practices paves a way for Child Marriage. Cutting across all of these is entrenched gender inequality and damaging social norms that make girls less valued than boys in Nepali society. Gender inequality, social norms, perceived low status of girls, safe healthcare, safety concerns about girls, and control over sexuality are considered to be reasons for the prevalence of child marriages. Child marriage occurs more frequently among girls living in rural areas. Investing in girls, developing their social and economic assets, giving them access to education and health services, and ensuring that they can postpone marriage until they are ready means greater dignity for women to help reduce the rate of Child Marriage in Nepal. 

On the other hand, as soon as the marriage happens, young brides are forced to prove their fertility after marriage and to give birth to children, especially sons. A young girl with minimal or no education, raised to be submissive and subservient, married to an older man, has little ability to negotiate sexual activity.

Child marriage also threatens the lives of offspring. Mothers under the age of 18 years have a 35 to 55% increased risk of delivering pre-term or having a low birth weight baby than a mother who is 19 or 20 years old. In addition, infant mortality rates are 60% higher when the mother is under 18 years old. Infants born to child mothers tend to have weaker immune systems and face a heightened risk of malnutrition (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_marriage). Married teenage girls with low levels of education suffer a greater risk of social isolation and domestic violence than more educated women who marry as adults.   Early marriage places young girls in a vulnerable situation without education resulting in women having fewer opportunities to earn an income and financially provide for themselves and their children by being completely dependent on her husband. Domestic and sexual violence from their husbands has lifelong, devastating mental health consequences for young girls because they are at a formative stage of psychological development. High rates of child marriage negatively impact countries' economic development because of early marriages' impact on girls' education and labor market participation. Using Nepal Multi-Indicator Survey data, its researchers estimate that all girls delaying marriage until age 20 and after would increase cash flow among Nepali women in an amount equal to 3.87% of the country's GDP.

Despite the government's promise of reform, too many children are still being married off before 18 in Nepal resulting in their futures being stolen. Some of the effects of a child's marriage are: 

• Girls who get married at an early age are often more susceptible to the health hazards associated with early sexual initiation and childbearing, including HIV and obstetric fistula,
• Young girls who lack status, power, and maturity are often subjected to domestic violence, sexual abuse, and social isolation, 
• Early marriage almost always deprives girls of their education or meaningful work, which contributes to persistent poverty, 
• Child Marriage perpetuates an unrelenting cycle of gender inequality, sickness, and poverty, 
• Getting the girls married at an early age when they are not physically mature, leads to the highest rates of maternal and child mortality. 

Some of the practices that can be adopted to overcome Child Marriage in Nepal are: 

• Strengthening the National Legal and Political Framework for Child Marriage and Marriage registration, 
• Empowering Adolescent Girls,  
• Involvement of Religious Leaders as well as Men and Boys, 
• Supporting the ongoing revision of curriculum on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, 
• Mobilizing communities to promote public expressions of commitment, and declare child marriage-free VDCs,
• Strengthening adolescent-friendly health services.

Child Marriages are considered as one of the social menaces that cannot be curbed easily without the support of society. Many times the parents of the girl child forcibly marry their daughters to some elder man so that that person can provide financial support to the girl’s family which may lead their financial condition to turn better, but we must aware more of these people and help them develop a clear mindset where a young girl can get an education and be independent further.  It can also be concluded from the above discussion that in early marriages, the girl child’s reproductive and sexual health is affected the most. 

Prepared by: Swikriti Parajuli

I’m a student and I believe in learning and sharing. Besides community development, I’m passionate about arts, music, and sports. Being a teenager myself, and with all the beautiful opportunities I have, I want to aware more people and hope every girl can achieve their dreams without being forced to get married. 

ICA Nepal is an experienced team dedicated to working in the field of human capacity building, and community development through advanced methods. It pursues to recognize people’s initiation, creativity, and enthusiasm in bringing sustainable development by considering existing cultural dynamics and pluralities. It is committed to creating an environment, in which the opportunity to participate and the construction of sustainable change and development is foremost.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ambassador through Youth Facilitative Leadership

ICA Nepal in coordination with Kalpa Academy launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ambassador, through Youth Facilitative Leadership Programme. The program intended to engage youths in activities through imparting knowledge about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building skills on project design and implementation. 

Kalpa Academy “Center for Governance and Sustainable Development” has been working in Nepal since 2019 with the main motto of contributing positively to the broad objectives of sustainable development in Nepal and strengthening Nepal's human resources with life-related skills and knowledge whereas ICA Nepal has been facilitating different capacity-building sessions aiming at the holistic development of the nation since 1998. The program related to the Youths has always become one of the core projects of ICA Nepal. We collectively believe that the Youths are the future of the nation and they must be nurtured with awareness and knowledge for the sustainable development of the nation. Over the strong words of David Nabarro “When it comes to sustainable development every county is a developing country” we hoped to implement this very program aiming at Youths. The launching event was held on 21 October 2021 in the presence of hundreds of youths along with University Professors and development workers. Professor Robertson Work, the chief guest of the event, emphasized the contribution that these innovative programs will bring to the development of youth and the accomplishment of UN initiatives. We will be working with young people directly through training and mentorship. The first batch of the training will start at the end of November to facilitate the youth on SDGs. The purpose of this training is to provide young people with the opportunity to participate in these programs and integrate the SDGs into their daily activities.

The Youths are the future of the nation as well as the key driver for the successful implementation and development. Kalpa Academy and ICA Nepal coordinately strive to engage and educate more youths through SDG education. We believe that every Youth is important, they are agents and leaders of the developed nation. The program is an initiative meant for enabling Nepali youths and contributing to SDG. It is a scheme for learning through engagement. The session highly focuses on Leadership and Capacity Development, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion, Quality education, Disaster Risk Management, and Good Governance.

During the launching event, we successfully conducted a brief survey regarding general information about the SDGs. The experts reflected on the serious topics related to the SDG, and Millennium Development Goals along with the brief introduction of Malala Yousafzai. The survey aimed to enlighten youths about their opportunity with more interaction. The Manager of Kalpa Academy Er. Ravi Khanal enlightened the participants on previous SDGs from 2000 to 2015 and the upcoming fifteen years plan from 2015 to 2030. 

The program provides a basic introduction of Module/Case Studies, Workshop/Training/Seminar, along with Field Visit and Presentation. The program carries a 3-month learning period of 2:30 hours per week, including report preparation and presentation. The session extends up to four months with 3 different batches each i.e Nov-Jan (Batch 1), Mar-May (Batch 2), July-Sep (Batch 3), with Certificates. The training will be facilitated with an individual coaching session, personal profiling, skill development training, communication skills, project proposal writing, and many more facilities. What one person perceives as a pain point, another individual may not see it in the same light or see it as an issue that needs to be addressed. This training will bring together students, experts, and practitioners of Governance and SDGs in real-time situations. Excursions in different fields/organizations will also add awareness among the attendees. The experts from Governance institutions/Organizations will provide an insight into their respective fields of work where the Youths will get a chance to directly learn from the specialists and exchange their ideas. At the end of the training, the ambassadors will make participants skilled to interact with officials concerned and work out a program independently on the relevant themes. The attendees will get support for learning, coaching, evaluating, collaborating, and implanting.

After the completion of the training, we have envisioned letting youths know more about their responsibility towards the nation along with professional and personal development through more secured career goals. The enhanced capacity for action-orientation, efficiency in partnership, and handling resources, and visible reliable act of sustainability can be observed among the attendees. The program helps Youths to think outside the box and develop decision-making capacity without being bound by preconceived ideas. Youths who want to contribute positively to society but don’t know where to begin, then this program is for them as one cannot bring change on its own they must be guided. Youths must learn to build a network and work in a team with the groups pursuing the same goal. The session also increases the capacity of the Youths in CV/Resume making, imparting knowledge, exposure of opportunities, social inclusion, and quality life through SDGs. The session will be chaired by experts nationwide and around the globe. The launch event was very fruitful and the attendees also showed their interest in getting involved in this session promptly.

Prepared by: Swikriti Parajuli

I’m a student and I believe in learning and sharing. Besides community development, I’m passionate about arts, music, and sports. 

ICA Nepal is an experienced team dedicated to working in the field of human capacity building, and community development through advanced methods. It pursues to recognize people’s initiation, creativity, and enthusiasm in bringing sustainable development by considering existing cultural dynamics and pluralities. It is committed to creating an environment, in which the opportunity to participate and the construction of sustainable change and development is foremost.

Spark Project on Promotion of Child Education

Children's education has been playing a major role in today’s society. A person without education and qualification is worthless and seems like a handicapped person. One must be mentally and physically prepared to learn and adapt to new things in society. Education shows us the importance of hard work and, at the same time, helps us grow and develop. Although there had have made policies and rights regarding child education, children are still facing problems in getting one. Despite the children and societal needs, children who are way too far from their dreams are forced to end one. Education builds team spirit and discipline in children, which will help them and the country in the future growth and development.  Education acquired during childhood teaches and molds a child in their communication and assists them to work as a team.

CHILD EDUCATION has always had a very huge impact on me, it is the SPARK I hold. During early September, I got a chance to conduct a program for children aiming at quality education awareness. First, my team members and I went to a nearby temple known as Mahadevsthan to get ourselves exposed to the beautiful nature by collecting all the local derived children. The children were very desperate and inclined to get involved in these activities that they loved.

The primary goal of the project was to distribute necessary materials to deprived children and to encourage them to read, breaking poverty. We were focused on raising awareness and spreading the importance of child education. The present children were also supposed to bring out their creativity through a drawing competition which was held on that particular day. Throughout the project, they additionally got a chance to engage themselves in mini-football competitions and clean up the temple area.

Considering the pandemic we also took all the safety measures along with gloves, masks, and sanitizers. The children were actively participating and they made the project even more fun. Firstly, we held a drawing competition, everyone was very thrilled to participate. The drawing competition brought out all the creativeness inside them. Further, we announced our winners and awarded each of them with storybooks to keep them motivated and never stop doing things they loved. My team members and I then successfully distributed reading materials such as copies, pens, sign-pen color, etc, and some reusable bags to the kids, promoting education. They were all very contented to receive the gifts where some of them also had tears filled in their eyes with joy. Next, we all took a little break and offered the children snacks, juice, and chocolates. Then, we held a mini football competition to add more fun and relaxing day to children. After the loving and fun day, we took all the children back home and had a long-lasting memorable day for life.

Overall the project was a huge success. Everyone learned various new things and got to know a lot of things from one’s perspective. After the completion of the project, my team members and I were deeply enlightened by the importance of education and how only one project can bring smiles and hope to their little eyes. We also hope to conduct these projects more in the near future because at the end of the day it is also our responsibility to lead a positive project to bring change and form a strong nation through the literate population. The project has deeply influenced me and had a more clear vision of my spark. The active participation from both my team members and children made the whole project more fun and astonishing.

This September has been very fruitful and informative for me. I was lucky enough to get to attend the Certificate Course on Social Artistry brought by ICA Nepal. The session included some incredible personalities involved in Social Artistry for more than a decade from across the globe. Some of the facilitators were Janet Sanders, supported by Evelyn Kurihara Philbrook, and the Social Artistry team of Nepal. Everyone has a little Spark within them, and throughout the session, we got the opportunity to explore those Spark. I am very considerate about the CHID EDUCATION, and I wish every child to be able to reach literacy, breaking poverty. Even though I want to do a lot of things aiming at child education, so far I haven't been able to make it. During the project, all the attendees were asked to conduct Spark Project in whatever thing they wish for leaving a positive message in society. All the financial support was also provided by the ICA Nepal to aspire them to start up. I will be forever grateful to the whole ICA team and the facilitators for the opportunity.

Prepared by: Swikriti Parajuli

I’m a student and I believe in learning and sharing. Besides community development, I’m passionate about arts, music, and sports.