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.

Thursday 11 September 2014

Wednesday, 10th. Landslide in Nepal




Here are some photos of the landslide.  You can see how the landslide has blocked the river, and the water will be building up behind it.  I wouldn't want to be on the downside of the river.  The blocks of houses have been washed into a pile like matchboxes.  You can see the concrete foundations have just been pulled up with the houses.  Also the rescue of a little boy, one of the lucky ones.  Cholera is also a big worry.  Clean water too is a problem and lots of displaced people.

As far as the training today, pretty much as the day before.  No explosions or anything.  It is still the wet season, so we get storms every afternoon or evening.  It is a blessing, as it keeps the dust down and everything is cleaner.  I'm sure it keeps the germs at bay.  There seems to be less sickness, so far.  Please pray for those people at Dologhat and that a way will be found to release the water in a slow way so there is not another disaster.

Robyn

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