Girls Advocacy Program Plan Nepal

Violence against girls and young women and the denial of their economic rights stand in the way of achieving meaningful gender equality. Serious violations of these human rights are affecting millions of girls and young women. Societies pay a high price for not tackling these issues. A 2011 Nepalese demographic and health survey found that 22 per cent of women between 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence at some point. Another study in six selected districts revealed that almost half of the women questioned (48 per cent) have experienced violence at some time in their lives. The study also revealed that one in ten adolescent girls (9.8 per cent) experience sexual violence (OPMCM, 2012). In Nepal, several factors contribute to gender-based violence (GBV) and the denial of women’s economic rights. These include women’s legal subordination, their economic dependency on their fathers and husbands, their unequal position in society, what men see as their entitlement to sex, women’s lack of education, insufficient knowledge of their sexual and reproductive health and rights, customary marriage practices, and a lack of family and legal support. Physical and economic aspects of gender-equality are intertwined. A lack of economic opportunities makes it very difficult for girls and young women to refuse child marriage and makes them more vulnerable to child trafficking and commercial and sexual exploitation.