Girl trafficking for prostitution in Nepal

Girl trafficking is one of the worst forms of human rights violations, of violence towards girls, of child labour and modern slavery. It is estimated that each year 5000 to 7000 Nepali girls and women are brought to brothels, mainly in India, but also to Gulf countries. More than 20% of them are below 16 years old – and the percentage is rising. Anisha Schubert explores the phenomenon systematically and gives a realistic, compre-hensive account of the issue. She describes the different ways girls are caught and forced into prostitution and explains how various socio-economic factors have smoothed the path for the current extent of girl trafficking in Nepal. These factors consist mainly in extreme poverty in rural areas, lack of information and the low status of women and girls, and there are also certain traditions of making girls prostitutes. The frequently life-long and life-threatening conse-quences for the girls’ mental, physical and social development are examined, as well as the extent of HIV infection. Moreover, the author sheds light on the actors who take part in and reap huge financial profits from trafficking. Possibilities of returning to Nepal do exist for trafficked girls, but more often than not, various reasons prevent a return. Foremost is the social ostracising of former prostitutes and HIV-infected persons. Finally, the report focuses on the effectiveness of international and national possibilities of intervention, both preventive and rehabilitative, with respect to success, limits and weaknesses. Fundamental changes in society are required to stop the business of girl trafficking.