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Trafficking of Women: Nepal's dirtiest Secret

by Bhuwan Thapaliya

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has assured the right of equality to women, under the Article 20 (1). "Traffic in human beings, slavery, serfdom or forced labour in any form is prohibited. Any contravention of this provision shall be punishable by law." However, limited government interventions, geographical proximity, relatively open borders, and poor security infrastructures, have made Nepal a convenient logistics and transit point for trafficking activities, making the trafficking of girls from Nepal to India, a notorious regional phenomenon.

The country possesses a number of soft targets that make it, an attractive site for girl-trafficking operations. Due to the age-old patriarchal value system, the Nepalese women are still forced to play the stereotype role in the society and are often regarded as the second-class citizen, even in the brink of the 21st century. They are still oppressed, exploited, dominated and are discriminated from the earliest ages.

Various socio-cultural taboos restrain Nepalese women from seeking justice against the violence they are facing. To curb these unbridled gender inequality, gender issues are gaining prominence in every field around the world, and Nepal is no exception but abusing women is still a common phenomenon in Nepal. Society still views these abuses as private, internal family matter, which should not be interfered with. Extreme cases of torture and cruelty against women go unnoticed and unreported. Even those few cases bought before the court of law are not adjudicated in a gender sensitive manner. Enforced prostitution and trafficking of women are forms of violence for profit, and substantial numbers of Nepalese women are subjected to it. The trafficking of women from Nepal to India is a grave problem confronting the Nepalese socio-economic imbecility.

The Numbers

Although it is extremely difficult to obtain data on trafficking, it is estimated that approximately more than 200000 Nepalese girls are working as prostitutes or in businesses relating to sex in different establishments in India. Varied sources indicate that between 5,000 and 7,000 Nepalese girls are sold to India on a yearly basis.

The story of these Nepalese girls in the Indian brothels is pathetic. The brothel owners, amid the four walls of the depravity, subject them to mental and physical persecution. If they refuse to serve the clients, then they are locked up for days, starved, beaten, and choked until they accept their ill fate and learn how to serve up to 15-20 clients a day.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, "Girls in brothels routinely face violence, intimidation, sexual assault, and torture at the hands of brothel-owners, clients, even police." Furthermore, the irony is this. Even after the decades of Governmental and NGO scrutiny and interference, trafficking is still a thriving business and the neo-networks are mushrooming. The traditional networks involved in trafficking have become more modern, complex, sophisticated, and organized through network of gangs and syndicates.

It is important to note that the nature, scope and pattern of trafficking are changing and that this change is directly related to socio- economic conditions and religious orientations.

The Deuki and Badi systems are the relevant examples from Nepal. In Nepal, there is a system, called "Deuki," where by rich childless families buy girls from poor families and offer them to the temples and these girls are forced into prostitution later on.

The economic factor, while not the most important, is considered to be important in influencing trafficking. Oxfam unequivocally blames the problem of rural poverty for the trade in girls and women from Nepal to brothels in Indian cities.

However, It has been pointed out by Mary Rozario that poverty alone is not the cause of prostitution. But when the condition is coupled with the low status women and the prevailing hierarchical caste structures the situation is aggravated.

Government Role

The state has a great role and responsibility in preventing such sensitive problem of trafficking women and girls. The government, time and again, is blamed for not showing its commitment and efforts to control trafficking of women, still one cannot devaluate the efforts of the various NGO’s mainly the "Maiti Nepal", regarding the control of trafficking in Nepal.

Nevertheless, we must act now. The matter is urgent. If we really wish to bring in a remarkable change in society, all forms of discrimination and exploitation against girl children must end everywhere. The need to support trafficking survivors and to stop the trafficking of women and girls from Nepal should be increasingly perceived as important as the development programmes by the government.

However, there is a frail link between the sensible strategies; so far in Nepal these typically focuses on psychology rather than socio-economic developmental models that addresses suffering and gender relations at the macro level.

The exploitation of Nepalese women and girls may never end. But surely, for now, it must be monitored. Its magnitude should be lessened. Let our efforts in this struggle be unceasing. If we make an honest and dedicated effort to solve this problem, it can be solved.