The government aims to end child marriage in Nepal by 2030 as part of its Sustainable Development Goals. However, it has been found that the rate of early marriage and pregnancy before the age of 20 remains high in Karnali Province. This data was recently made public by the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development in Karnali Province. According to Laxmi Basnet, Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, 21% of all pregnant individuals in Karnali Province are girls under the age of 20. Data released by the Social Development Division of the Ministry of Social Development shows that 21% of girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant: the highest rate among all seven provinces of Nepal.
According to Suvarna Khadka, Chief of the Social Development Division under the Ministry of Social Development, incidents of gender-based violence among women aged 15 to 49 during pregnancy were 4.2% seven years ago and have risen to 4.8% in the past three years. He stated that the rate of gender-based violence has increased over the last three years compared to the past. According to him, cases of physical violence against women in Karnali have also been on the rise. While the rate of violence against women was 15% seven years ago, it has reached 16.7% in the past three years. The Ministry’s data also shows a rise in incidents of sexual abuse against women.
Similarly, in Karnali, 29% of women aged 20 to 24 were found to have been married by the age of 18. Despite the implementation of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy 2021 formulated by the provincial government, incidents of early marriage and violence have not been effectively reduced. However, the policy has led to the implementation of awareness, prevention, and social inclusion programs against gender-based violence across the province.
Karnali Province’s Minister for Social Development, Ghanshyam Bhandari, stated that the National Action Plan Against Gender-Based Violence will help reduce gender-based violence and prevent underage marriages.