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.

Friday 28 September 2012

Friday (continued)

Last night, Raju took us out to dinner at the Tibet International Hotel.  It is very nice and as Raju knows the manager very well (he seems to know all sorts of people, even had a meeting with the Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago) we hope some of our girls can be trained there in hospitality.  He has full confidence that they will be safe there.  It was Raju's sisters anniversary and it was a privilege to be part of the family group.  Trish began her tour today.  It is funny because she is the only person on the tour, so it should be very personal.  She says that she is off with all her friends!!!  She is seeing the sights in Kathmandu today, and off for rafting and elephant riding.  She even got on the back of a motorbike the other and went for a ride in this lunatic traffic.  She is braver then me.  Robert and Jahni have the day off today also, and are seeing the sights.  This afternoon, we need to see our exporter, and sort out details about the tea etc.   Remember the 4 little boys Grahame and Raju brought into Kathmandu.  When they got down the mountain, he bought them an ice-cream.  They had never seen one, let alone eaten one.  The little one was quite afraid of it.  One bite changed his mind.  I have been looking at the footage of Grahame's ride up and down the mountain.  I am so glad I wasn't there.  It looked terrifying.

Robyn
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)