Lumbini province launches program to eliminate child marriage

The Lumbini Province government in Nepal issued new procedures to implement a child marriage reduction program across all local levels of the province.

The government created these guidelines to manage a conditional grant for the 2083/84 fiscal year. The initiative aims to make the province free from child marriage by changing the behaviors and attitudes of children, parents, teachers, and religious leaders. Local authorities in sub-metropolitan cities, municipalities, and rural municipalities must execute the program through their respective branches.

The initiative targets students in grades 6 to 12, girls and adolescents aged 12 to 18 who are not in school, and the parents of these children. Workers will focus on educating these groups about the legal, health, social, and educational consequences of early marriage. The program includes identifying high-risk communities to provide special counseling and training led by legal, security, and administrative experts.

The government also plans to use local volunteers who have experience in reducing child marriage as trainers. To reach the public, local officials can spend up to 15 percent of the grant on advertisements in newspapers, on television, on the radio, and online. They also plan to use street dramas, short films, and documentaries to spread awareness.