In July 2016, CARE Nepal’s Tipping Point Project hosted the launch of its research report on The Cultural Context of Child Marriage in Nepal and Bangladesh: Findings from CARE’s Tipping Point Project, Community Participatory Analysis (CPA). The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Prakash Mainali, was one of the special guests in attendance, and Priyanka Kumari Harijan, from Rupandehi was the chair for the event. Priyanka is an adolescent champion against child marriage working with CARE Nepal.

During the event, the Tipping Point Documentary about child marriage in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu was shown, and the documentary was followed by Priyanka sharing her story:

“My education was discontinued and it was decided that I would have to get married. But after interacting with CARE Nepal’s program, I had the ability to speak up for myself and voice the fact that I did not want to get married, but wanted to pursue my education. Today I am seventeen years old and hold an Intermediate Degree.”

-Priyanka Kumari Harijan, CARE Nepal

CARE’s innovative approach was applauded as being an effective method to produce societal change. The Tipping Point project is contributing to the Nepali government’s commitment to end child marriage, and the Deputy prime Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to end child marriage by 2030 during his speech.

The launch event also included a panel discussion consisting of the researchers of the report and CARE’s partner organizations. The panel shared their experiences as researchers, first-hand observations, and implications for the Tipping Point program as well as other programs using a similar approach. The event had over one hundred attendees and was covered in many national news outlets.

A Social Scourge – The Kathmandu Post (English)

Child Marriage Still Rampant – My Republica (English)

Findings from CARE’s Tipping Point Project Community Participatory Analysis Research in Nepal and Bangladesh were released on Wednesday, February 24th, 2016.

Click here to read the report.

Click here to read more of the Tweets generated during our launch event!

Imagine growing up in a place where, as a child, you’re more likely to walk down the aisle than into a secondary school classroom.

That’s the sad reality for girls in the following 26 countries, where data reveal they have a greater chance of getting married before age 18 than enrolling in secondary school, let alone completing it. For them, “for better or worse” becomes overwhelmingly worse. “For richer, for poorer” is decidedly poorer. They are, in essence, being forced to take vows of poverty. As a result, their countries are saddled with a devastating deficit — in opportunities for girls.

We count down these 26 countries, from those with the smallest such deficit to those with the largest. In some of these places, communities are making great strides in delaying marriage for girls and opening more doors to quality education. They offer hope — and may not be on this list much longer. Other countries, however, show little progress. They are home to some of the most difficult living circumstances on earth, especially for girls.

Read our full report to learn more about the causes of child marriage, the barriers to girls’ education and the steps you can take to help shorten — and one day eliminate — this list. Or, take action now, so that all girls, regardless of where they are born, can reach their full potential.