Just Rights for Children unites with Nepal government to end child marriage by 2030

KATHMANDU: The Government of Nepal has launched the nationwide ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ initiative, supported by Just Rights for Children (JRC) and Backward Society Education (BASE). The initiative saw parts of Kathmandu hosting a candle march, with participation from children, child rights activists from India and Nepal, and local residents.

Hundreds of people marched, chanting slogans such as ‘Hamro Nepal, Bal Vivah Mukt Nepal,’ aiming to end child marriage in Nepal by 2030. JRC outlined its ground-level strategy, focusing on prevention, protection, and prosecution to generate awareness about this deeply rooted issue. In collaboration with BASE and government officials, JRC plans to administer pledge-taking ceremonies across all seven provinces.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli expressed solidarity with the cause and took a pledge against child marriage earlier the same day. The launch event in Kathmandu was led by Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens; former Chief Minister of Lumbini Province and BASE founder Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary; and JRC Founder Bhuwan Ribhu, alongside ministers from all seven provinces.

JRC Founder Ribhu asserted Nepal’s potential and determination to end child marriage, stating, “Nepal has some of the world’s strongest child protection laws. Eliminating child marriage requires strict enforcement through prevention, protection, and prosecution, with pledges at scale and a partnership approach. With whole-of-society participation and whole-of-government accountability, Nepal can set a global example.”

JRC, one of the world’s largest networks of civil society organisations, has been instrumental in stopping approximately 250,000 child marriages in India through counselling and legal interventions. On a global scale, JRC organised the ‘Child Marriage Free World’ global pledging week in December 2024, with participation from 39 countries, including Nepal and India.

Supporting the Nepal government alongside BASE, the network aims to end child marriage in Nepal through a well-structured strategy. BASE Founder Chaudhary expressed confidence that this deeply rooted violation of children's rights will be ended by 2030. “Child marriage has plagued our society for centuries, but the time for change is now. We are fully committed to ending this grave crime against children once and for all,” he said.

The ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ campaign will focus on high-prevalence districts and communities, combining youth and community awareness with pledge-taking ceremonies and grassroots engagement. The campaign will unite various stakeholders, including government officials, lawyers, civil society members, faith leaders, parents, teachers, and children, to achieve the goal of ending child marriage by 2030.

Nationwide one-week pledge-taking events will engage schools and communities, featuring rallies, marches, and awareness activities to amplify support for the campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the consequences of child marriage on a child’s well-being and foster a sense of responsibility among citizens.

Despite Nepal’s high legal marriageable age of 20 years for both boys and girls, and stringent child marriage laws, the country ranks second in South Asia in the prevalence of child marriage. Notably, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, launched the Child Marriage Free India campaign in November 2024, which has reached over 250 million people.