Child marriage and the payment of a dowry are deeply rooted in the culture of the Mashesh region in southern Nepal. It is believed that girls should be married off at a young age and that failing to pay a dowry brings misfortune upon a daughter and her in-laws. Because these traditions have harmful consequences, Asal Chhimekee Nepal organises awareness-raising programmes for men in the village on these issues.
Mr Chaudhary is attending a training course
During the information session, trainers explain the legal consequences and negative impact of child marriage, and how the dowry system undermines women’s dignity and rights. One of the participants is 48-year-old Ghanshyam Chaudhary. He lives in Madhawaliya with his wife, two daughters, a son and five other family members.
Debt and stress
He explains: “When I got married twenty years ago, I didn’t accept a dowry from my in-laws myself. But I wasn’t fully aware of the legal and social consequences of the dowry system.” It saddens him when he realises how many parents, despite their good intentions, fall into debt to pay a dowry, purely to ensure their daughters’ happiness. He also realises that he has seen children suffer as a result of early marriages and that social pressure has caused mental distress for families.
A firm promise
That is why Mr Chaudhary is now firmly committed to ensuring that he will neither give nor accept a dowry when his daughters and son get married. He also intends to speak out against child marriage and encourage others to understand what legal action can be taken against these harmful practices. “At first, I thought I should marry my daughter off at an early age, but now I’ve decided to give her a good education first and let her become independent. I am truly grateful to Asal Chhimekee Nepal for opening my eyes through this awareness-raising training,” he says.
The organisation ACN is committed to ending material, social and spiritual poverty in southern Nepal. The CGK Diaconate supports ACN’s work.
Watch the video about this project:
