Child marriage-free zone declared in Jajarkot

By Our Correspondent,Jajarkot, Sept. 21: Ward No 6 of Chhedagadh Municipality in Jajarkot district has been declared a child marriage-free zone. 

The announcement was made after the ward met all the criteria to qualify for a child marriage-free zone. 

The ward has met all 51 criteria set by the Child Marriage Mitigation Strategy Plan 2077 and Directives on Child Violence Free Ward Directives-2077 of Chhedagadh Municipality.

Ward Nos. 5 and 11 of Chhedagadh Municipality have already been declared child marriage-free zones following the campaign initiated with the aim of safeguarding and upholding the rights of children.

Once all 13 wards of the Chhedagadh Municipality are officially declared free from child marriage and child violence, the entire municipality will be announced as a child marriage-free zone. 

The remaining wards are also actively working to achieve this goal. 

Ward Chairman of Chhedagadh Municipality-6 Bhakta Bahadur Thapa said the announcement was made by displaying a placard bearing the impactful slogan: "Say no to child marriage, don't do it, don't do it, don't do it, and don't do it."

Ratna Bahadur Khadka, Mayor of Chhedagadh Municipality, said that the campaign to protect child rights and to control child marriage and child violence would be pushed forward in coordination and cooperation with the relevant agencies.

In order to protect the rights of children effectively, it is essential for the community to adhere to the directives set forth by the government in line with the law, Khadka said. 

The announcement was made in partnership with the Panchtara Youth Protection Forum and Save the Children in coordination with Chhedagadh Municipality.

As the ward has been declared a child marriage-free zone, now onward, no parents are expected to marry off their juvenile children.