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.

Sunday 28 December 2014

Sunday,28-12-14. Conference begins

Here we are at the guest house, feeling as if we never left.  Our flights  went according to plan,  but had to wait for an hour and half for one vanishing suitcase.  It turned up thankfully,  as all I had to wear was what I was standing in.

Team members arrived over the course of the day; Grahame having to go late at night to pick up two ladies who have  come from NewZealand.  We have another arriving tonight, and at the end of the week, some leave and others arrive.    The Conference is underway.  We had a great keynote address from Al Watson this morning which he will continue this week.  Now classes of various groups are in different rooms with their trainers.

It is milder than expected, but was cool during the night. The sun is shining, and a "hot" Nepali lunch was had by all at the break.  I saw Sapana today, who is the first of our half-way house ladies to be married.  He is  in Bible college, and he is a nice young man.

Robyn

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