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 3 January 2015

Friday. Bollywood and Kathmandu belly

New Year's Eve was quite a night.  After the training, all the trainees stayed behind and we celebrated the end of the old year.  Bollywood was the music of choice and I really enjoyed dancing with everyone.    I also spent the day with my sponsor girl and also the sponsor girl of my friend.  We went  out to a restaurant for pizzas and cheesecake.  Then we came back to the guest house, and played Uno sitting on the bedroom floor.  That was fun, until I tried to get up again.  Then I had to prepare the evening meal, so,the two girls came into the kitchen with me and peeled the potatoes and did the beans while I made the stew.  I just loved every minute of it, and so did they.  It was a real mother/daughter afternoon.  They finally had to go back to the hostel, but it was a great day.  We have had vomiting and diahhorea with two team members, then yesterday, I spent time in bed, and today another one has vomiting.  We said goodbye to our keynote speaker for the first week, and two new members have arrived tonight and another lady arrives at midnight.  Grahame is still in Myannmar.  Friday is team day off, so this morning, we visited one of the hostels,with the team.  Only 24 girls there as the rest have gone to the villages over the holidays.  We had so much fun with them.  They are gorgeous.  In the afternoon, we went to Thamel, the tourist centre, and a little shopping, and then out to dinner before coming home.  The first week of training has been great.

No comments:

Post a Comment