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.

Thursday 27 September 2012

Grahame home again (continued)

Then they had the long drive home again to Kathmandu.  I really admire what Grahame will do for these children.  At his age, it is hard work.  Yesterday, I went to school to record a couple of songs the children sing.  It was so wonderful to see them in their neat little uniforms, the choir singing, one on a keyboard, one on the drums, three violinists.  They had been practicing for a couple of days because they wanted to get right.  Raju wants me to reinterview one of our girls to get the "real story".  I am bracing myself for this job.   When face to face with a beautiful teenager, with a big smile,and then having to hear what has gone on before, I always have trouble keeping it together.  The "half-way" house for the women from India is officially being dedicated this afternoon.  I believe there are 10 more women on the way soon.  Don't know if we will be here when that happens. Nepali time is quite different to ours.  Grahame if off again on a 5 hour round trip to see the land I mentioned.  It is the most magnificent spot. There is a wide river winding through the mountains.  Terraced rice fields on the mountain sides; it is so beautiful.  This is such a land of extreme contrasts.  Indescribable beauty and horrendous poverty and tragedy.  Our team is down to four after today as Trish is off on her tour.  She says she will see everything in a different light now she has seen what life is really like, and not just be a tourist who sees only part of life here

Robyn.
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1 comment:

  1. Victoria Sayer27 September 2012 at 17:43

    Thanks for keeping us posted, Robyn. Great to hear about what's happening, through your eyes.
    Keep up the good work. God bless.

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