Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country of 147,181 square kilometers with a population of nearly 30 million.41 50.4 percent of the population are women and 49.6 percent men.42 40 percent of the population is below 18 years of age. According to UNDPs Human Development Report Nepal is the third poorest among 58 countries in Asia with the sixth lowest human development ranking.

Child marriage is high in Nepal with more than one-third of women aged 20 to 24 years having married before the age of 18 years. 16 percent of women aged 20 to 24 years had a child before the age of 18 years.

Nepal is currently undergoing significant demographic changes due to its transition into a federal state. It is important to ensure that these changes including the process of decentralisation will result in prioritising investment into health, education, nutrition and other child related services by strengthening the social protection system for children and their families.

The constitution of Nepal defines it as a secular country and prohibits conversion of persons from one religion to another. Hindus constitute 81.3 percent of the population, Buddhists 9 percent, Muslims (a majority of whom are Sunni) 4.4 percent, and Christians (a majority of whom are Protestant and a minority Roman Catholic) 1.4 percent. Religious organisations except Buddhist monasteries follow the same registration process as other NGOs and non-profit organisations.

In Nepal, UNICEF has engaged NIRN – National Inter Religious Network – which is an umbrella organisation that brings together different organisations representing different religious and spiritual platforms. Religions for Peace Nepal too has many religious organisations collaborating with them, representing all religions. They have been advocating for child rights issues at various religious forums such as weekly and annual prayers, and these trained leaders are now advocating for child rights issues in their communities.