Divorce – Left column

It is difficult to get a divorce in Nepal. Legal changes have made it possible for a woman to divorce her husband and still keep some of the property, and even to gain custody rights. However, such court cases are lengthy and expensive. It typically takes many months to get a divorce case through court if the woman makes any kind of property or custody claims. Even worse than the time and money required to get a divorce is the social stigma put on a divorced woman. Many women are so terrified of being ostracized from their communities if they get a divorce that they will endure years of abuse instead.