Stop Child Marriage

Nepal abolished child marriage in 1963, but the practice remains rampant, leading to teen pregnancies despite efforts by the government and non-governmental organisations to eradicate it. Reports suggest that child marriage and early age pregnancies have not declined in Nepal, even though the Civil Code 2017 has set the legal age for marriage at 20. Child marriage and early pregnancy are detrimental to the rights and well-being of the young population. 

These practices hinder the holistic development of both boys and girls. According to reports, 20 per cent of women become mothers by the age of 20. In addition to deep-rooted cultural traditions, poverty makes teenage girls vulnerable to child marriage. At an age when a girl should be pursuing education and dreaming of financial independence with a promising career, becoming a mother at such a tender age impedes her personal progress.

As per a report of the UNICEF, Nepal has one of the highest rates of child marriage for both boys and girls in Asia and more than one-third of young women aged 20-24 get married by the age of 18. Nepal’s Demographic and Health survey states that the child marriage rate is 35 per cent, which is the second-highest rate in South Asia. Marrying and having children at a very young age prevents girls from making choices and puts them at significant risk of abuse and violence. Likewise, early marriage traps disadvantaged girls in a vicious cycle of poverty, depriving them of education and income-generating skills. One of the leading causes of child marriage in Nepal is poverty, lack of education and awareness programmes. 

The family marries off a daughter early, thinking that doing so means fewer mouths to feed. The rate of child marriage and teenage pregnancies is very high in Karnali and Madhes Provinces. According to a news report published in this daily, more than 20 per cent of teenage girls in the Himalayan district of Humla give birth to their first child before reaching 19 years of age. Lack of education is attributed to this high rate, as Karnali Province lags in educational development. According to the National Census 2021, the literacy rate of the Province is 76.6 per cent. The teenage pregnancy rate is highest in Karnali Province at 21 per cent, followed by Madhes Province at 20 per cent.

Many teen mothers are unaware of the possible health risks to themselves and their children due to underage pregnancy. Early motherhood can also lead to mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression.  Despite Nepal's dedication to meeting the global commitments outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to eradicate child marriage by the year 2030, this target still appears far from attainable. 

Increasing access to education and healthcare, awareness campaigns that engage families and vulnerable communities, and strictly enforcing laws with appropriate punishment for violators are essential to eliminating child marriage and early pregnancies.  Empowering girls through education and income-generating skills can make them independent and self-reliant. This requires access to basic public utilities. It is imperative for federal, provincial and local governments to push for integrated development schemes in areas where early child marriages and unwanted pregnancies are most prevalent.