KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 30 In the wake of 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), The Himalayan Times interacted with women activists to know their observations regarding GBV in Nepal. Responding to the queries posed by THT during the National-Level Consultation on Strengthening Advocacy on Child Marriage in Kathmandu by the Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society (NMWWS), they shared that child marriage is the scariest problem that women face from the very beginning of their lives. Child marriage is more prevalent in Rautahat district, especially among Muslims. According to the 2021 Census, Rautahat has the highest concentration of Muslims in Nepal, at approximately 22.4 per cent. 'Muslim women in Rautahat face multifaceted challenges that hinder their socio-economic progress. Child marriage is also prevalent in the Muslim community of Rautahat,' reads the latest report by the Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society (NMWWS). Seema Khana, chairperson of NMWWS, shared with THT that Muslim women in Rautahat deal with domestic and gender-based violence. Education remains one of the most pressing issues. A large proportion of Muslim women in the district have little to no access to higher education, often due to early marriages, societal norms and inadequate infrastructure. Employment opportunities for Muslim women are limited, with most of them engaged in informal sectors or domestic roles. Many women in this community do not have access to health services, particularly maternal and reproductive care, exacerbating their vulnerabilities. 'Additionally, Muslim women have negligible representation in governance and decision-making processes. These barriers highlight the need for targeted interventions to uplift the socio-economic status of Muslim women in Rautahat,' she said. 'Muslim women in Rautahat face numerous challenges that are deeply rooted in cultural, societal and systemic factors. Patriarchal norms prevalent in the community restrict women's mobility and decision-making abilities.' She emphasised that educational opportunities for Muslim women are scarce, with high dropout rates due to early marriages, lack of awareness and inadequate facilities. Misinterpretations of religion are often used to justify limitations on Muslim women's access to education and employment, further marginalising them. 'Moreover, discriminatory practices and social biases discourage Muslim women from participating in public life, while limited access to financial, legal and social resources prevents them from overcoming these barriers. These challenges necessitate a multi-pronged approach to create an environment where Muslim women can thrive,' she added. Najbul Khan, a women's rights activist, shared, 'The technologies have exacerbated the child marriage concern precariously as they develop relationships through social media. Minors who use social media tools such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram form relationships and force themselves to make immature decisions that later jeopardise their lives and progress. Domestic violence and gender-based violence have been linked to technology-mediated relationships and marriages.' Julie Thekkudan, a gender and women's rights specialist, highlighted the solution to child marriage, stating, 'The message and communication regarding child marriage should be simplified through education and several other tools for wider awareness. We also need to emphasise a victim-centric approach, and we need to give importance to their rights, including citizenship and properties, which are difficult but not impossible.'