Kathmandu, October 23 The three-day celebrations to mark the fifth International Day of Girl Child 2016 concluded today. On the occasion of IDGC 2016, various programmes were organised at both district and national level with a focus on ending child marriages across the country. Art exhibition on different aspects of adolescence, dance, song performances, poetry contests and panel discussion on the theme of ending child marriage and empowering girl child were also held during the three-day long event. Dr Kiran Rupakheti, under secretary, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, today said that the ministry had been celebrating the day by organising various awareness programmes. The ministry has already issued National Strategy to End Child Marriages in Nepal by 2030. IDGC is celebrated globally on October 11 every year, but in Nepal it was postponed due to Dashain. The Girl Summit held in Kathmandu in March 2016 had stressed on ending child marriages. A government survey conducted in 2011 states 41 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18 years. Similarly, the United Nations Children’s Fund report states that 37 per cent of girls were married before the age of 18 and 10 per cent were married before the age of 15. Various studies have ranked Nepal in the third position after Bangladesh and India where child marriage remains a serious scourge. Various age-old harmful practices have been affecting the lives of girl children in Nepal. The tradition of child marriage that is deeply entrenched in our society has been trapping girls in the vicious cycle of violence and thereby thwarting their hope of a bright future. Although the legal marriage age was raised to 20 years in Nepal, about 29 per cent of marriages still take place between girls and boys under the age of 18. As underage marriages are accepted in society, implementing law is very difficult..