The UN experts concluded that ending forced conversions and child marriages is essential for safeguarding human rights and ensuring equal protection under the law for all citizens, regardless of religion.
The coming weeks will likely see intensified advocacy campaigns, potential UN discussions, and continued reporting from independent Afghan media outlets operating in exile.
In response to the survey’s release, advocates are pushing for enhanced government action. While Nepal has ratified international conventions like the Convention on the Rights of the Child, implementation lags. Proposed measures include strengthening school retention programmes, providing scholarships for girls from poor families, and enforcing anti-child marriage laws more rigorously.
While grassroots activism continues to challenge entrenched norms, the legislative battle against child marriages in Balochistan has been disappointingly sluggish.
The report follows a nine-month investigation conducted from September 2021 to June 2022 and included a visit to Afghanistan by the group's researchers back...