In Bardiya, Nepal, young Bali always dreamed of driving a car and escaping her village, but her sixth birthday marked a different fate when her parents sold her into servitude. For five years, Bali served a privileged family, contributing to ongoing caste-related social inequalities. She later married at 13 and now wishes for her daughter to avoid the traps of early marriage. However, discussions to lower the legal marriage age from 20 to 18 in Nepal risk reversing progress in combatting child marriage. There are efforts to train local authorities and educate against child marriage, but challenges remain, with many girls still suffering in silence. Despite the threat of social isolation and violence facing advocates, a testament to change is seen where the next generation of girls continues to fight for their rights.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/1/nepals-girls-face-new-child-marriage-fears-amid-debate-to-change-law?traffic_source=rss