Divorce

It is difficult to get a divorce in Nepal, but the situation is improving with changes to the legal system. Marital property must now be divided equally between the spouses, and custody rights are decided by prioritizing the best interests of the children. A woman can file for divorce without needing her husband’s consent, and marital rape and bigamy are among the expanded legal grounds for divorce. Likely due to these legal reforms, Nepal’s divorce rate rose to 4-5% in 2025. Still, such court cases are lengthy and expensive. A contested divorce case can take up to 18 months. Even worse than the time and money required to get a divorce is the social stigma it brings. Many women are so terrified of being ostracized from their communities if they get a divorce that they will endure years of abuse instead.

Lakshmi*
Arranged marriage at the age of 16 years old
Two children  “

My husband was very violent and abused me. He beat me almost daily and raped me whenever he liked. We had two sons together. One day I decided to leave this situation, and fled with my two boys. I wanted a divorce, but I feared social retaliation. My family asked me to not divorce, as this would ruin the family.  My husband was still looking for me and when he found me he beat me in public. He harassed me on several occasions and he printed flyers with my phone number on, saying I was offering free sex. I had no energy anymore. I just wanted to live a happy life with my two children. So I asked The Women’s Foundation Nepal for help. The staff there convinced me, that I should divorce my husband and they helped me to push the case through court. My husband stopped harassing me, as I was in a strong community, protecting me. Eight years after I left him, I was finally legally independent and had custody of my children. I now work and raise my children and they are doing so well at school. I am very happy and free now.”

*name changed