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Started 1 week ago · Updated 1 week ago

Child rights activists oppose government's proposal to lower marriage age to 18

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Child rights activists are strongly opposing the Nepali government's proposal to reduce the legal marriage age to 18, arguing it will negatively impact children's health, education, and development. Organizations like Children as Zone of Peace (CZOP) are concerned that this change, potentially enacted by ordinance, could undermine child protection efforts and human development indices. They advocate for maintaining the legal age of marriage at 20.

  • Tilottama Poudel, president of CZOP, stated that the issue has not been formally discussed but reports indicate the government is considering the change, possibly via ordinance.
  • Tarak Dhital, former Executive Director of the National Council for Child Rights, cited studies showing negative effects of lowering marriage age on educational, mental, economic, social, and reproductive health.
  • Dhital pointed to countries like China, South Korea, and India, where the legal marriage age is 20 or above, and stressed the need for a comprehensive study in Nepal's context before any reduction.
  • Data from the President Women Upliftment Programme showed that 50% of pregnant and post-partum women rescued between June 2025 and January 2026 were between 17 and 20 years old.
  • Activists believe lowering the marriage age could negatively impact campaigns promoting child-friendly, nutrition-friendly, and child labour-free communities.

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South Korea Tilottama Poudel Tarak Dhital Children as Zone of Peace (CZOP) National Council for Child Rights

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