Desperate Girls

The Badi Girls

Between 7,000 and 12,000 young girls, aged 9-16, are trafficked each year from Nepal; mainly to India. According to Nepal Monitor/On line journal, 2007, there are more than 200,000 Nepali girls in Indian brothels.

The Dalits(untouchables) are the lowest level in Hindu society, and the Badi community, in Western Nepal, are the lowest of the low. As a displaced hungry people group the Badi community has made sexual subservience a way of life. Young girls from this group “serve” other groups. This has become a tradition and means of livelihood. Many girls, even when they are unwilling, are forced to serve as sex slaves. Family members knowingly sell their daughters to traffickers.

Though prostitution is illegal in Nepal, the industry reportedly has links with highly ranked officials and political leaders. Large groups of girls are taken across the border with many police and government officials being in collusion with traffickers and brothel owners.

Traffickers and related criminals are often protected by political parties, and if arrested, are freed using political power. As a result, there is an underlying distrust of police that has led people not to file cases against traffickers.

Domestic action involves activities of NGO’s and other volunteer groups. These groups are playing a major role to address girl-trafficking and sex slaves issues. Some NGO’s are playing a very important role to improve the situation. From creating social awareness to rescuing and rehabilitation, they are providing services (and relief) to those that need it the most – the likely victims as well as the rescued ones. The Lighthouse foundation is one of these.

*See Chandra Kala’s story on this blog site.

Monday 2 April 2012

Political unrest brings Grahame's trip to a halt

Grahame is on his way home half way through his trip because of a strike in the region he wanted to see.  When a strike is on, no vehicles are allowed in the strike zone.  They will be protesting about "who knows what".  There is always trouble of some sort with the government, and with good cause.  Everything grinds to a halt.  Please pray for the bus load of little girls travelling from the west into Kathamndu.  They will be getting on the bus this afternoon, facing an 18 hour ride on very winding roads.  They are scared, they get motion sick, and wondering what is going to happen to them when they get here tomorrow morning.

Robyn
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2 comments:

  1. Josh Kerr3 April 2012 at 00:05

    Hi All,
    Thanks for your continued posts. It really good to read what's happening.
    Josh

    ReplyDelete
  2. Victoria Sayer3 April 2012 at 16:45

    Wonderful to read all about your days in Nepal. Thanks for putting in the effort, so we can keep up to date. Prayers are with you.♥

    ReplyDelete

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