Child sexual abuse law in Nepal: What are offences? What are punishments?

A month ago, the country celebrated National Children’s Day with an aim to protect children from different forms of abuse. However, various studies have shown that cases of violence against children have been continuing at an alarming rate. On average, 10 cases of violence against children were recorded on a daily basis in the first six months of this year, according to the Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre. Of them, many were cases of child sexual abuse.

In 2018, the parliament had enacted a separate law focusing on the rights of children. Here are the rights of children, in particular provisions about child sexual abuse, as mentioned in the Act Relating to the Children, 2018.