Kathmandu, Dec. 20 -- Thirty child marriages took place in one municipality in Sarlahi District during the lockdown earlier this year. This startling fact highlights howgirls are at particular riskas the Covid-19 crisis impacts Nepal's economy.

Thelegal marriage agein Nepal is 20. Globally, girls who marry before 18 are consideredchild brides,yet close to 40% girls under the age of 18 are married in Nepal, making the countryone of the worst examples in Asia.

"There were more child marriages than usual in Sarlahi, Dailekh and Surkhet districts during the lockdown," says Samita Pradhan of the Women's Reproductive Rights Programme at the Centre for Agro-ecology and Development (CAED). "I think people are following their culture -marry your...