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, 11 April 2015

Tribal Women of Myanmar



Myanmar has at least 135 people groups with other sub groups within the groups.  Here are a few photos of just a few of the many amazing traditional costumes.  The "giraffe" people add a ring a year to their necks.  In the long term, it is very damaging to their necks and collarbones.  There is a strong army presence here, as this is the closest town to the border of the Wa State where there has been a lot of fighting between the Wa people and the army.  There has been a peace treaty signed recently, but there are many orphans here.  Just in Lashio there are 200 orphans that have been taken into peoples homes and many more are needing somewhere to live.  The pastor we had dinner with last night has two extras in his home along with his own family.  We leave today for Mandalay for one night.  We are meeting someone there who has land, possibly suitable for a school.
Robyn
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