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.

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Tuesday 13th January. Finally arrived.

We arrived finally, after 12 hours waiting and travelling.  We arrived at 5 pm. After arriving so early in the morning to the airport, our plane  was over 2 hours late arriving.  We left the first lounge, to put our hand luggage through yet another scanner, plus a pat down.  Into the second lounge, waiting, waiting, waiting.  Finally, the call. Another pat down, onto a bus that took us to the plane.  I was looking forward to seeing Delhi from the air.  Thick pall of smog engulfed everything.  Almost on the Tarmac  before we could see anything.  I missed the glorious Himalayas on the way out of Kathmandu, as I was on the wrong side of the plane.  The smell of oil fumes was suffocating till we got inside the terminal.  Then it took over an hour to get through immigration.  Almost another hour to the hotel.  The vibe here is different to my beloved Nepal.  But, being tired and my first visit, I need to save my estimations till later. Looking forward to tomorrow to getting started on connecting with the right people and beginning to set up the new mission.
Robyn

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