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Raising Girls' Voices in Nepal  
In Nepal, 60 percent of girls are married by age 18, contributing to one of the highest maternal mortality rates in South Asia. For almost a decade, conflict has weakened Nepal’s economy and community life, further decreasing opportunities for girls and youth. The Fourth National Girls’ Congress in Nepal, sponsored by CEDPA/Nepal and its partners, brought together Nepalese girls from three conflict-ridden districts in Nepal to advocate for youth-related issues among national leaders. They were joined by parents, teachers, health workers and boys from their districts. These girls asked Nepal’s leaders to support higher enrollment of girls in schools and greater availability of female health workers in clinics, among other issues. The congress also strengthened the formation of an adolescent girls’ network that will continue reach out to parents, teachers and national leaders about issues affecting girls and their families. The girls selected for the congress have shown leadership ability in their communities. Each also has participated in CEDPA/Nepal’s Building Demand for Reproductive Health Awareness among Adolescent Girls project, which increases the reproductive health knowledge and use of appropriate health services among adolescent girls. The project also focuses on improving the self-esteem of out-of-school, illiterate adolescent girls. |
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Feb. 25, 2006—Over 170 girls and their parents gathered Feb. 26–27 in Kathmandu to ask Nepal’s leaders to make girls a focus of health and development. 
