Forbidden Desires is a youth-led research report that sheds light on the often-overlooked consequences of criminalizing consensual and non-exploitative sexual activities among adolescents in Nepal.

Conducted by Youth-Led Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Advocacy Nepal (YoSHAN) in partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights, the study explores the lived experiences of young people across diverse socio-cultural contexts, unpacking how punitive legal frameworks, stigma, and patriarchal norms restrict adolescent sexuality, autonomy, and access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and key stakeholder insights, the report offers powerful testimonies, critical analysis, and bold recommendations for policy reform.

Forbidden Desires challenges the silence and shame around adolescent sexuality and calls for a rights-based, age-appropriate, and inclusive approach that honors young people’s evolving capacities, bodily autonomy, and dignity.

Access the report here.