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 8 April 2015

Tuesday 7th April. Kathmandu/Myanmar?????????????

I am wondering if there is some confusion about the blog. At present, Grahame and I are in Myanmar,  establishing a foundation for Christian schools, and doing our research on all that is involved.  Geoff and Gloria Parry are leading the team in Kathmandu in our absence.  We will be arriving in Kathmandu on 14th April.  So if you have been wondering which country you are in, and why there seems to be two countries involved,  now you know.

It is extremely hot in Yangon, and we have spent the day in a hot car in traffic trying to get to see land and to talk to people.  Our car broke down today, and then some team members we were having dinner with, got lost in the taxi, and were very late arriving.  Nonetheless, we are all in good spirits and loved the fellowship with our Burmese brothers and sisters, and also a couple from Korea.
Robyn

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