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.

Wednesday 25 September 2013

Health training in Nepal

My time in Nepal has so far been better than I could have expected. Being a registered nurse I came with the knowledge that I would help to teach in basic health care for the girls and women here. Our topics have included basic hygiene, first aid, pregnancy, child health, reproduction and sexual health. The first day went so well after a few minor issues. We were greeted with smiling faces and many hugs and kisses which I was not expecting. It was fun to teach the CPR and see the girls practicing on the CPR maniquin. The girls did well and our interpreter said that they were still talking about it when they were back at the hostel. The part that I was most afraid of was teaching on sexual health considering what these beautiful ones had already been through. But some girls got notebooks to take notes and they all seemed to receive the information well. Hopefully it clarified to them some basics about how our bodies work. I thanked God a lot once it was done.

The more time I spend with the girls the more I know their stories and it makes everything more real. Before I came I would look at the statistics of the amount of Nepalese girls that get trafficked. But knowing their stories it reminds me that these girls are not just statistics. Each one of these girls Jesus cares so much about and each of the girls yet to be rescued Jesus cares so much about. I'm happy to be part of an amazing organisation that is making a difference.

Crystal Hempsall :)
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