Nepal is facing a potential increase in child marriage rates due to a government proposal to lower the legal marriage age from 20 to 18. Activists warn that this could jeopardize millions more girls, as evidenced by the life of Bali, a mother who became a child bride at 13. Despite efforts to combat child marriage through laws implemented in 2017, the caste system and societal pressures continue to affect girls' rights and education. Women's rights activists advocate for protecting young girls from early marriage, highlighting the importance of education.
"My biggest wish was for my 17-year-old daughter to stay in school. I cannot watch her get trapped in an early marriage like I did."
"Though Nepalese citizens can vote at the age of 18, the idea behind raising the marriage age to 20 was to ensure that young women complete school."
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