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Every Girl Counts - Nepal Factsheet

Every Girl Counts - Nepal Factsheet

Fact Sheet

Son preference and daughter aversion have predominantly been understood in terms of gender-biased sex selection, which has been identified and measured by the presence of a skewed sex ratio at birth.This fact sheet extracts and applies research and data relating to Nepal to better understand the context and impacts of son preference. It outlines the underlying causes of son preference, identifies the ways in which son preference manifests and explores the consequent impacts on women and girls.

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Nepal's Journey in Fulfilling the ICPD Commitments: The Roadmap towards ICPD30

Nepal's Journey in Fulfilling the ICPD Commitments: The Roadmap towards ICPD30

Declarations and Statement

In 1994 the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (commonly referred to as ICPD) transformed global thinking on population and development issues. 2024 will mark 30 years of this milestone, and ahead of this, the Ministry of Health and Population of the Government of Nepal, with the technical support of UNFPA, carried out a seven-month rigorous ICPD review process from May to November 2023 to assess Nepal's committments. This knowledge product provides a brief overview of the sequential process of the ICDP review process and the progress made ahead of ICPD30 in 2024.

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The 2021 Nepal Population and Housing Census Support Project

The 2021 Nepal Population and Housing Census Support Project

Technical Reports and Document

To support the Government of Nepal with the 2021 Census, UNFPA collaborated with likeminded partners – the British Embassy Kathmandu and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – with a common goal of improving the socioeconomic well-being of Nepal’s people in an inclusive and accountable federal state through support to the 2021 Census of Nepal. This knowledge brief outlines the components and benefits of the collaboration, challenges, lessons learned and achievements of this exercise - from start to finish.

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Youth in Numbers Factsheet

Youth in Numbers

Fact Sheet

The UN generally defines youth as individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 years. However, this definition is not universal and varies by country. The Government of Nepal defines youth as people between the ages of 16 and 40 years. This factsheet analyzes the data related to young people from the 2021 Census and the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey with a focus on the age groups 15 to 24 and 15 to 39, as well as the age range of 16 to 40 years wherever relevant data is available. The age group 15 to 39 allows for a close comparison with Nepal's 16 to 40 definition.

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Cover page of the Every Girl Counts publication

Every Girl Counts

Technical Reports and Document

Son preference and daughter aversion are harmful social and gender norms rooted in gender inequality. With generous support from the European Union and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UNFPA and its partners are working to engage multiple levels of society to transform social and gender norms and end these harmful practices in Nepal and many other countries.

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UNFPA Nepal Annual Report 2022

UNFPA Nepal Annual Report 2022

Annual Report

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are central to accelerating wider development progress in society and the economy. Women still experience obstacles in accessing these rights. That is why we have set out to deliver three life-changing results by 2030, which is the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These are zero unmet need for family planning, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage. This Annual Report shows our work and progress made in 2022.

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Policy Brief: Men’s Perspectives on Son Preference and Gender-Biased Sex Selection

Policy Brief: Men’s Perspectives on Son Preference and Gender-Biased Sex Selection

Technical Reports and Document

Husbands play decisive roles in contraceptive use decisions and the number of sons and daughters to be given birth to, by their spouse. Studies have shown that women who were unable to bear sons were subjected to different forms of physical and psychological pressures including disgrace and stigmatization (by calling her names for inability to give birth to a son) and fall under immense threats from their in-laws and husband to bringing in a second wife if they do not beget a male child for continuing the family legacy (UNFPA/CREHPA 2007, 2019).

This policy brief is based on a study conducted in two districts of Lumbini Province, Nepal, to understand the underlying causes of son preference and the practice of gender-biased sex selection from a men’s perspective.

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Policy Brief: Gender Gap in Birth Registration and the Practice of Gender- Biased Sex Selection

Policy Brief: Gender Gap in Birth Registration and the Practice of Gender- Biased Sex Selection

Technical Reports and Document

Birth registration, which is a permanent and very first proof of recording of a child’s existence, is an important human right. Like in most countries, birth registration is mandatory in Nepal and is required for enrolment in schools accessing health services, for obtaining national citizenship, passport etc. However, research such as the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey shows that only 56% of the children under the age of 5 years were registered, out of which only 52% having a birth certificate. This formative study was conducted to understand the proximity between the gendergap in birth registration and the practice of gender-biased sex selection.

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Policy Brief: Gender-Biased Sex Selection

Policy Brief: Socio-Cultural Factors Underlying Son Preference and the Practice of Gender- Biased Sex Selection

Technical Reports and Document

Gender-biased sex selection in favor of boys is a manifestation of gender inequality and the unequal value given to girls in family and society at large. According to UNFPA, it is a result of pervasive social, cultural, political and economic injustices against girls and women. Globally, the sex ratio at birth ranges between 102 to106 boys, per 100 girls which in Nepal is 105 boys per 100 girls. The 2011 Population Census reveals that 12 districts have highly imbalanced sex ratio at birth (110 and over) due to son preference, which is alarming. This policy brief was developed based on studies conducted to explore the socio-cultural factors underlying son preference and the practice of gender-biased sex selection in Nepal.

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12th National Population and Housing Census of 2021

12th National Population and Housing Census 2021

Technical Reports and Document

The National Statistics Office of the Government of Nepal released the results report of the 12th National Population and Housing Census 2021 Report in March 2023. It has also launched a innovative data portal at https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results

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