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 29 December 2012

Back in the land of mountains

 It  is the 29th of December, 2012.  We arrived yesterday in the early afternoon; the sun was shining and the day was beautiful and warm.  We were expecting to be freezing.  When we got to the flat, it was cold inside though.  We needed to rug up at night.  There are 14 hours a day without electricity so it is good that is chilly, with not much refrigeration.  But we learn to work around it, and sort of get used to it.  We have seven  team members here and we are all a little weary.  The conference starts tomorrow at 9 a.m. for the next two weeks for full time teacher training.  Also governance, and community development.  I start my doll making on Tuesday.  Can't wait. We went to church this morning.  The first service was packed to the doors.  The band was wonderful and the preaching passionate.  I met Bimala again (my little sponsored girl) She had her 12th birthday last week.  She is so tiny it is hard to believe she is that old.  Some of the women from the half-way house were there also all smiles and cuddles.  It was lovely when we arrived at the airport yesterday, two of the women from the half-way house were there to greet us with marigold lays to welcome us here.  I was very touched by that.  Our inverter was not working when we got here.  It was fine when we left.  With such a shortage of electricity it is good to have a way at least to charge our computers and phones etc.  We hope it can be repaired.  Apparently, the Badi girls will be part of a movie that some famous movie star here is making about the importance of education.  I am a bit vague about the details, but Raju is very excited.  At some point, I am going to the half-way house with an interpreter to get their stories.  Also for the new little girls who came in since were here last.  When we arrived at church this morning, some children were practicing some items they will be performing tomorrow at the beginning of the conference.  They were singing, playing recorders and violins.  Now they are just normal little girls doing things that would not have been in their wildest dreams a couple of years ago.  I can hear my pressure cooker about to blow it's top out in the kitchen so I need to attend to it.

Robyn
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