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 4 January 2013

Friday

It is 5.45 a.m. and five team members have just left for a plane trip of the Himalayas.  It is an hour flight.  They are all very excited about being up close and personal with those magnificent mountains.  Our two new members arrived yesterday and what delightful gentlemen they are.  One is a school principal and the other is a church pastor who is the chairman of the board at the school.  Craig is teaching christian leadership.  Ted and Steve leave at lunch time and tomorrow another man arrives.  There are many comings and goings.  We have acquired the new guest house and we move in on the 20th.  It is quite near the Tusal hostel and closer to the little vegetable carts that come out each evening so buying the fresh  veges will be a little easier.  Raju is also planning on  moving all the Australian sponsored children into one hostel instead of them being in other places.  That will make visiting and keeping up with our girls so much easier.  The doll making class is a big hit with the girls.  I am getting photos, Jill, so you can show your doll group.  I am out to lunch today with some of our girls.  Friday is always a free day as the church spends the day preparing for their church day which is Saturday as in Nepal it is the day off.  So there is no conference today, but it commences again on Sunday, which is like our Monday.  I am always confused about what day it is when church is on Saturday.  This afternoon the team will be visiting the hostels and the school, though it is holiday time here, and the half-way house.  Last night, we took the team out for a meal and afterward we were surrounded by a tribe of street kids.  Stephen took them all to a cake shop and bought them all a big slice of cake.  The shop owner was happy, as he almost sold all his cakes.  But it was so cold out at night, and these kids were not warmly dressed.  Some would only be 9 or so.  They will probably curl up together somewhere to keep warm.  Life is pretty tough here.            

Robyn
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