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 15 September 2012

Out to a village church.

Today is Saturday, the normal church day here in Nepal, because that is the only day off.  We drove about 2 or so hours out to this little place, walked along a dark hallway, up a very steep flight of stairs and entered a small room on the first floor.  The village folk were all seated on the floor, mostly women and a few children.  They sang a few songs with the aid of a guitar, tambourine and a  nepali drum.  It was hot and oppressive inside, one lady was picking nits out of her little boys hair and another was giving her child a piece of collate to chew on to amuse him.  We tried to explain afterwards, that coolite is not good for a child's diet.   Grahame preached, we looked at land out that way for another project that is in the pipeline, then managed to have lunch at about 3p.m at a hotel on the way back.We finally arrived back here about 6p.m. after a 7.30.a.m. start.  Tomorrow, some training begins here in the flat with some of the teachers, I have my Newborn Care training at one of the hostels, Margaret is doing more preparation for her classes on Monday.  Next week is going to be full on, with each of us in various places all day till 6.p.m.  One of our team went home today, and two others arrive during the week.  Katie is fantastic, with her camera clicking away all the time.  It must be tiring as she has to be on the alert trying to take photos to capture life here, the weary faces, the smiling children, the magnificent scenery.  Today we were all heartbroken when a poor lady came begging at the bus window as we were stopped at a checkpoint.  She was filthy, dishevelled, deep lines on her face, saying she has no home and no food.  We all passed some money to her, and she broke down with tears streaming down her weatherbeaten face.  How these people survive I have no idea.
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1 comment:

  1. Josh Kerr17 September 2012 at 14:16

    Thanks for the ongoing posts. Even though there aren't too many comments. We are loving the correspondence. It is great to hear what is happening. We hope you are greatly blessed for what you are doing.

    Josh

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