Weak status of girl children calls for better awareness

KATHMANDU, Oct 11: Experts in a function in Kathmandu marking the International Day for the Girl Child said that 17 percent of girls become pregnant or mothers for the first time as early as at the ages between 15 and 19 and almost 83 percent adolescents of the same age group lack access to modern contraceptives in Nepal.

As a result of early and frequent pregnancies, many women and adolescent girls are undergoing sexual and reproductive health problems. Nepal comes to top 10 position among countries in the world and ranks third in South Asia with the highest child marriage rate.Stakeholders have said that rampant child marriage is the root cause of many problems such as gender-based violence, reproductive health troubles and school dropout, among others. As a result of rampant child marriage in Nepal, health of both women and girls is at risk.

The data of Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 2011, even suggests only 38 percent of women in Nepal know that abortion is legalized in the country and seven percent of maternal mortality is due to unsafe abortion. Nepal had legalized abortion on September 26, 2002.

At the program organized by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) in collaboration with 11 development partners to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, Tarak Dhital, Secretary at the Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB), said that having laws only doesn't ensure safety of girls.

"Laws alone can't protect the vulnerable group and give them access to education and health facilities. Awareness is extremely important to protect adolescent girls," said Dhital.

Stating that the recently-promulgated constitution is very progressive in terms of children and adolescent group, he said that the government further needs to come up with programs that helps change people's mentality. "Unless people are made aware and give up stereotypical thinking, child marriage is not going to decrease," said he.

Likewise, Joint Secretary of the MoWCSW Radhika Aryal said that the problem of child marriage is not going to end unless awareness programs are targeted to both boys and girls adolescents.

"Child marriage, gender-based violence and trafficking are high among the marginalized community," said she. "Unless programs are targeted to both boys and girls adolescents, it is not possible to help adolescent girls.

She even added that the MoWCSW is working on developing a national strategy to end child marriage.

Related story

Worth of stories