Nepal
Nepal is home to 5 million child brides. Of these, 1.3 million married before age 15
mostly women and girls, are trafficked to Indian every year
in Nepal are married before the age of 18
Child marriage remains a significant challenge in Nepal, affecting the lives and futures of many young girls.
Despite legal frameworks aimed at preventing this practice, cultural, economic, and social factors continue to drive high
rates of child marriage in various regions of the country.
Child marriage remains a significant challenge in Nepal, affecting the lives and futures of many young girls.
Despite legal frameworks aimed at preventing this practice, cultural, economic, and social factors continue to drive high
rates of child marriage in various regions of the country.
Freedom's not for sale; fight modern slavery. Empower connections; stop exploitation. Educate one, empower many. Be the change against trafficking.
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Child Marriage
Education Inequality
Gender discrimination
What is Child Trafficking?
Child trafficking is the illegal practice of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, or receiving children for the purpose of exploitation. In Nepal, the common forms of exploitation include forced labor, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, for-profit orphanages, and illegal adoption.
- Recruitment: Children may be recruited through deceit, coercion, or force. Traffickers often use false promises of education, employment, or a better life.
- Transportation and Transfer: Traffickers move children within or across national borders. This can involve smuggling children across remote areas to avoid detection.
- Harboring and Receiving: Once trafficked, children may be kept in hidden or isolated locations to prevent escape and ensure continued exploitation.
- Use in Armed Conflict: Children are recruited or abducted to serve as soldiers, messengers, or spies in conflicts.
- Forced Labor: Children are made to work in hazardous conditions, often for long hours and little to no pay.
- Sexual Exploitation: Children are forced into prostitution or pornography.
- Forced Marriage: Children, often girls, are sold or coerced into marriage.
- Illegal Adoption: Children are illegally adopted, often under false identities.
- Use in Armed Conflict: Children are recruited or abducted to serve as soldiers, messengers, or spies in conflicts.
- Poverty: Families in extreme poverty may be more vulnerable to traffickers’ false promises.
- Lack of Education: Uneducated families and children are less aware of the dangers and more likely to be deceived.
- Political Instability: Regions with weak governance or conflict are more susceptible to trafficking activities.
- Demand for Cheap Labor and Sexual Exploitation: The high demand for cheap labor and the sex trade fuels child trafficking.
- Physical and Psychological Harm: Trafficked children often suffer severe physical injuries, mental health issues, and trauma.
- Loss of Childhood and Education: Trafficked children lose their childhood and the opportunity to receive an education.
- Legal and Social Stigma: Victims may face legal repercussions and social stigma, further isolating them from support systems.
- Legal Frameworks: Strengthening and enforcing laws against child trafficking.
- Education and Awareness: Educating communities about the dangers and signs of trafficking.
- Support Services: Providing medical, psychological, and legal support to victims.
- International Cooperation: Collaborating across borders to track and dismantle trafficking networks.
BACKSTORY
During the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, the Compass Rose International founding team provided disaster relief in remote Himalayan villages. In Shikharbesi and Ghyangphedi, they discovered many girls missing, uncovering an elaborate trafficking ring selling them to Indian brothels.
What is Child Marriage?
Child marriage in Nepal remains a significant social issue, deeply rooted in cultural, economic, and social factors. Despite legal prohibitions, the practice persists in various regions of the country. Here are some key points about the issue:
- Minimum Legal Age: The legal age for marriage in Nepal is 20 for both men and women.
- Penalties: Child marriage is punishable by law, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those who facilitate or engage in the practice.
- Prevalence: Approximately 40% of girls are married before the age of 18, with a significant percentage marrying before the age of 15.
- Regional Variations: The prevalence of child marriage varies by region, with higher rates in rural and impoverished areas.
- Poverty: Economic hardship drives families to marry off daughters early to reduce financial burdens.
- Gender Inequality: Deep-seated gender biases value girls less than boys, leading to early marriage as a means of controlling female sexuality and securing their economic future.
- Lack of Education: Limited access to education for girls perpetuates the cycle of child marriage.
- Health Risks: Early marriage often results in early pregnancy, which poses significant health risks for young girls, including maternal and infant mortality.
- Educational Disruption: Girls who marry young are more likely to drop out of school, limiting their opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Violence and Abuse: Child brides are more vulnerable to domestic violence and abuse.
- Government Initiatives: The Nepalese government has launched various programs aimed at raising awareness and enforcing laws against child marriage.
- NGO Activities: Numerous non-governmental organizations work to educate communities, empower girls, and provide economic support to families to discourage child marriage.
- Community Engagement: Engaging local leaders and communities is crucial for changing attitudes and practices related to child marriage.
- Enforcement: Weak law enforcement and corruption hinder the effective implementation of laws against child marriage.
- Cultural Resistance: Deeply ingrained cultural traditions and resistance to change make it challenging to eradicate child marriage.
- Education: Enhancing access to education for girls is essential for preventing child marriage.
- Economic Support: Providing economic opportunities and support to families can reduce the financial incentives for early marriage.
- Legal Reforms: Strengthening legal frameworks and ensuring their enforcement are critical for protecting the rights of children.
By addressing these factors, Nepal can make significant strides in eliminating child marriage and improving the lives of its children.
What is Education inequality and gender discrimination?
Education inequality and gender discrimination are significant issues in Nepal, impacting the lives of many, especially women and girls. Here are some key points on these topics:
Education Inequality in Nepal
- In rural areas, schools are often distant and lack basic infrastructure.
- Economic barriers prevent children from low-income families from attending school.
- Children from marginalized communities, such as Dalits and indigenous groups, face discrimination that hinders their educational opportunities.
- Schools in urban areas tend to have better facilities and more qualified teachers compared to those in rural areas.
- There is a lack of trained teachers and resources in many public schools, leading to a poor quality of education.
- Various programs have been launched to improve access to education, such as the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP).
- Scholarships and free textbooks are provided to encourage school attendance among underprivileged children.
Gender Discrimination in Education
- Traditional gender roles often prioritize boys’ education over girls’.
- Early marriage and household responsibilities are major barriers for girls’ education.
- Girls are less likely to be enrolled in school and more likely to drop out compared to boys.
- The transition from primary to secondary education sees a significant drop in the number of girls continuing their studies.
- Limited access to education restricts women’s opportunities for employment and economic independence.
- Educated women are more likely to participate in decision-making processes and advocate for their rights.
- Programs aimed at promoting girls’ education and gender equality, such as the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI).
- Awareness campaigns and community engagement to change societal attitudes towards girls’ education.
Case Studies and Examples & Recommendations
- ome communities have successfully set up local schools with the help of NGOs, providing education tailored to their cultural context.
- These schools often focus on empowering girls and include curriculum components that address gender equality.
- Initiatives that connect girls with female role models and mentors have shown positive results in inspiring them to pursue education and careers.
- Strengthening policies that promote equal access to quality education for all children, regardless of gender or socio-economic status.
- Ensuring that educational programs are inclusive and culturally sensitive.
- Increasing community involvement in schools to ensure that local needs and perspectives are addressed.
- Educating parents and community leaders about the importance of girls’ education and gender equality.
- Providing financial support and scholarships for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Establishing support systems to help girls balance education with household responsibilities.
By addressing these issues, Nepal can make significant strides towards achieving education equity and gender equality, thereby empowering all its citizens to contribute to the nation's development.
CHILD MARRIAGE
Child marriage remains a significant challenge in Nepal, affecting the lives and futures of many young girls.
Despite legal frameworks aimed at preventing this practice, cultural, economic, and social factors continue to drive high
rates of child marriage in various regions of the country.
WHERE
WE
WORK IN NEPAL
GIRLS INPOWERMENT CENTER
Location: Ghyangphedi, Nepal
Programming includes: anti-trafficking awareness, leadership, socio-emotional wellness, and self-development.
Nestled in the breathtaking Nepali Himalayas, our learning center and dormitory offers hope to girls facing gender-based challenges.
Guided by the Compass Rose Philosophy and aligned with the Nepal Government’s National Plan, we cultivate resilience, confidence, and independence through teaching adaptation, self-protection, and practical skills. By helping them recalibrate their internal compass to their True North, we inspire them to embrace their authentic selves and INpowerment, transforming their lives and addressing these critical issues for a brighter future.
Compass Rose International uplifts young women vulnerable to child trafficking and mental health challenges, providing tools for resilience, confidence, safety, and independence.
GLOBAL COLLECTIVE IMPACT INITIATIVE
TESTIMONIALS
Sharmila Tamang
"Ever since I have arrived at this center, I’ve been able to study. Here, I’ve learned discipline, manners, respecting elders, and caring for juniors. I also picked up new skills; sewing, dancing, and playing kabaddi."
Kalpana Tamang
"I can save 2 hours by studying here instead of walking. I’m picking up new skills here too. As 12th graders with morning sessions, we require a room close to school. However, living alone might not be safe for us. Living here gives us a sense of security. I hope this learning center continues to expand and thrive. "
Sonakshi Sherpa
"Ever since I have arrived at this learning center, I’ve acquired new skills I never knew before. Society may hold us back, but this learning center empowers girls to move ahead. "
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End Child Trafficking: Protect the Girl's Future
Child trafficking is a horrifying reality that affects millions of children worldwide. These young victims are exploited for labor, sex, and other forms of abuse, stripped of their innocence and basic human rights. Raising awareness about child trafficking is crucial in the fight to end this global crisis. By educating ourselves and others, supporting anti-trafficking organizations, and advocating for stronger protective laws, we can help protect vulnerable children and bring traffickers to justice. Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. Let’s take a stand and be the voice for the voiceless.
In the summer of 2011, Katie wanted to do more than simply volunteer. She felt a lonely disconnect when the volunteer assignment ended and wondered if her work was truly making an impact. This was the year that she morphed from Katie the volunteer to Katie the changemaker.
Katie traveled to India and Nepal to help orphans. As someone who is adopted herself, it pulled on her heartstrings. She raised around $3,000 that year from families and friends with the intention that once she arrived in the country, she would blog about how she would spend their charity.
During that summer, it was soon discovered in Nepal that 85% of children in orphan homes have living parents (UNICEF). Volunteers and overseas donors were funneling money into the institutions, but no one was helping the widowed or abandoned mothers. Many of these women came from the lowest caste in Hindu society, the Dalits or “untouchables.” Life was already egregious before they had to make it on their own, but now they were essentially powerless without their husbands and resorted to giving their children up to orphan homes.
The orphanage business was, as she found out, a for-profit enterprise. In other cases, children are stolen by traffickers and sold to orphan homes, because the profits are so high.
Katie soon began looking for ways to sustain the families and that was through social entrepreneurship; echoing concepts she learned about in her political science coursework at Colorado Mesa University. That first summer was spent traveling the country investing in farming-based businesses (cows, buffalo, goats) for mothers so they could afford to keep their children. They also provided a school building in Koshi Tappu, and a farming enterprise in Pokhara, to additionally support educational efforts in low-income areas.
The scope of Global Orphan Prevention, now Compass Rose International course-corrected after the 2015 Nepal earthquakes to include stopping child sex trafficking. While Katie and her team were running disaster relief, rebuilding health posts, and supporting birthing centers in the remote-access Himalayan villages, they discovered that in this one particular village in the Nuwakot District, 19 young girls had gone “missing” in the first month following the earthquake. That number has since increased steadily.
She and her Nepali team conducted an undercover investigation and discovered they were taken to India and sold into the brothels as prostitutes. The average age was 14-16, but she’s seen some cases as young as six.
In 2015, in collaboration with the locals and NMB Bank, they developed a micro-savings and loan program to address the root causes of the issue; lack of finances and illiteracy. They established a women’s empowerment group, training them in business opportunities and helping them save their money at the bank, earning 8% interest.
Currently Katie has made it a personal mission to track down the now over 27 girls (this number keeps growing) in India through investigative work and utilizing her collaborative rescue partners.
Global Orphan Prevention, now Compass Rose has just finished the completion of a Girls Learning Center & Dormitory. At our center, girls who live over a 2.5-trek from school will get to live at our dormitory and receive an education from the local Secondary School, while having access to leadership and self-development programming through our partners RedPanda (the local nonprofit), Community Leadership Nepal, and entrepreneurial training through NMB Bank.
Other collaborative partners include Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), Love Justice, and International Justice Mission, who have partnered with us to collaborate on tracking down missing children. Tackling the global child trafficking issue is truly a multi-faceted effort that includes a coalition of many agents. No single organization can do it alone, and we understand that we play our parts so perfectly well. Working together is the only way forward.
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