Sexual and reproductive rights are the basis of women empowerment without which gender equality cannot be achieved. In order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, gender equality must be at the heart of international agenda.

Through underage marriage, girls lose out on their childhood and compromise their physical, mental and reproductive health.

In Nepal, and other countries of South Asia- namely India and Bangladesh, lack of economic security, displacement, societal instability, lack of education and awareness, age old traditional practices and superstitions, poverty, caste and dowry systems and the stigma associated with premarital sex, force some parents to seek early marriage for a girl child. These are some of the main reasons that child marriage, under-age marriage, and forced marriage is thriving in Nepal. Child marriage in Nepal was outlawed back in 1963. The government promises reforms, but in towns and villages across the country, nothing has changed. In 15 out of 75 districts in Nepal, child marriage is unacceptably high.

Media Alert in collaboration with Nepal Government’s Ministry of Women Children and Social Welfare is in the process of developing a film project for Nepal, a national campaign, to raise awareness on child marriage and issues. The aim is to complete production by the end of 2025 and disseminate the film across Nepal and globally .