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.

Saturday 8 September 2012

Here we are again.

Once again, we find ourselves in our flat, with a new team.  Everyone is trying to learn about the power     schedule, what needs to be locked, where to hang up our washing etc. etc.  We are all pretty wasted tonight, hoping we will be more alert tomorrow.  Four team members arrived yesterday at noon,  Grahame and I arrived at 8 p.m. last night, and two others arrived at lunch time today.  Some of us went for a walk  down the  main street to change money and see the Buddhist  temple, and Katie, our expert photographer, has had a field day with all the colourful sights, mangy dogs, bright saris, bags of dried chillies, spicy curry,and other mysteries.  They have really enjoyed being assaulted with sights, sounds and smells.  Raju apparently has a meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow; he never ceases to amaze us with the contacts he has.  We go to church tomorrow and we are looking forward to seeing our little sponsor girls and giving them a big cuddle.  In the afternoon, we have a planning meeting to finalise our time here.  We all have different tasks, in different places at different times.  I will write again tomorrow.  My poor jet lagged brain is having trouble thinking.

Robyn.   Friday, 6th September.

1 comment:

  1. Hi to all. We're praying with you every day. Thanks so much for the updates - we really appreciate that. While it's one year since we were with you, our hearts have stayed every day. And our kids are rallying their friends to sponsorship as well. Love Helen

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