Round Table Discussion on Ending Child Marriage:

For the purpose of ending child marriage, a round table discussion event was held by ACORAB Nepal in partnership with World Vision International Nepal.

Collaboration with other commissions, including the Human Rights Commission, Dalit Commission, Women Commission, Muslim Commission, and Inclusion Commission, was the program's main goal. The numerous issues surrounding child marriage and the role of the commission and interested parties in addressing the issue were discussed.

Recommendations Collected from the Round table Discussion:

• National Human Rights Commission is doing case based investigation however needs more attention for in-depth attention of each case. Cases of violence among the children is increasing so it also needs psychological treatment. NHRC is providing recommendation to government.
• National Dalit Commission (NDC) has been carrying monitoring activities as it has limited budget for programming. Social awareness and support from political representatives is essential to end such criminal act. Many of the young boys are in prison because of the rape cases. Such cases came out when there is relation/marriage between so called upper caste and lower caste.
• When government is not sensible in the issue of child rights constitutional commissions need to work actively to end child marriage and other harmful traditional practices. Czop is doing evidence based advocacy for the protection of child rights.
• To end the child marriage by 2030 constitutional commissions, organizations and other stakeholders need to bring joint effort and should work in cooperation with each other. National Child Rights Council is planning to reach 753 local government.
• National Women Rights Commission (NWC) provide policy recommendation to the government.  NWC is also carrying awareness raising program in local government. It register cases related to women violence, provide shelter for the victims and provide legal services to the needy cases.
• National Inter-religious Network (NIRN) has been carrying training and orientation program to the religious leaders for discouraging marriage before 20 years. From the very beginning of life religion touches the human. So NIRN will continue advocating/counseling for marriage after 20 years through interfaith leaders.
• There exists policy gap to meet the target of ending child marriage so policy revision at national level is urgent. Each local government need to set action plan and allocate budget for ending child marriage. World Vision International is working on multiple approach to end child marriage by 2030.