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VOL. 27, NO. 10, November 02, 2007 (Kartik 16 2064 B.S.)
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5000 SEX WORKERS IN VALLEY: A STUDY
Up to 5,000 sex workers are working in the Kathmandu valley, a recent study claims, The Himalayan Times daily reports. "Although there are no red light areas, flesh trade is flourishing. According to recent estimates, there are between 4000 and 5000 female sex workers in the Kathmandu valley," states the study conducted by the Daywalka Foundation and Centre for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities.
"Though we have not undertaken any official survey, our estimates roughly match with this survey figure," Senior Superintendent of Police and chief of the crime branch of the Metropolitan Police, Upendra Kanta Aryal, said, adding, "We have taken action against roughly the same number of female sex workers."
According to the report, concentration of traffickers is high in the valley in general and the capital city in particular. As the city is the main business and economic hub of the country, the influx of job-seekers and migration of rural youths either for higher education or employment is very high. Poverty, lack of employment opportunities, migration, low-paying jobs and gender discrimination, lack of female education and lack of awareness are causing girl-trafficking to flourish in the country, according to the study.
It also states that the traffickers lure women, children and men in the name of better opportunities and other attractions and finally force them into flesh trade. "Modern traffickers have many faces. They are human resource managers, who import domestic workers and hold them in isolation and forced labor at their homes. They are members of organized crime networks that push people into forced prostitution."
There are four tiers of traffickers -- master trafficker, primary trafficker, secondary trafficker and spotters. The master traffickers are the kingpin in the trafficking hierarchy and control the supply chain. The traffickers usually trap girls and women with false marriage proposals and attractive jobs, says the study. "The trafficker or his accomplice projects himself as the potential bridegroom, convinces the parents and the girl, opts for marriage rituals and then trafficks the victim."
About seven percent out of the total of 2,210 prisoners are serving jail terms in the Kathmandu valley in cases related to human trafficking. Most of the imprisoned male traffickers are from Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Dhading and Makawanpur districts.
The study also states that poor law enforcement is to blame for rise in these crimes. "We have to socially and economically analyze the crime as criminal law alone cannot curb this malaise. We have to analyze why this crime (flesh trade) is continuing as there are some districts where people have socially accepted this practice as a source of income," SSP Aryal says.
WFP, US Provide Food Aid
The United States, through USAID’s Office of Food for Peace and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, has provided $6.8 million dollars to the UN World Food Programme’s operation to support the peace process and to provide food aid and livelihood support to conflict-affected people in Nepal, according to a press release by the WFP.
“This $6.8 million dollars of assistance to the people of Nepal demonstrates the United States of America’s continued support for a more peaceful and prosperous Nepal,” said U.S. Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. “Through the World Food Programme, the $6.8 million dollars will be used to improve the lives of Nepalis who continue to suffer from the effects of years of conflict.”
At a cost of nearly $49 million, WFP’s peace and recovery operation aims to provide food aid and livelihood support to over 1.2 million conflict-affected people in Nepal who continue to struggle to rebuild their lives. As a part of this effort, the US contribution will provide in-kind food aid to over 160,000 people and essential cash resources needed to kick-start the operation.
“Despite efforts made since the end of the conflict last year, many people have yet to receive any tangible benefits from the peace process – they are still hungry, they still lack access to basic services and critical infrastructure, and opportunities to rebuild their lives. This critical support from the US will enable us to reach-out and provide a safety net to these vulnerable populations during this uncertain time in Nepal’s peace process,” stated Richard Ragan, WFP Country Representative in Nepal.
WFP’s peace and recovery activities will be implemented in 28 of the most food-insecure, conflict-affected districts in Nepal . Programme activities include rehabilitation and construction of critical infrastructure, return and rehabilitation packages, and civic education training.
‘ Japan Should Become Permanent Member of UNSC’
At the meeting with her Japanese counterpart Masahiko Koumura on October 10, Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan informed Koumura that in her speech at the UN General Assembly she stressed the ways in which Japan had been cooperating proactively around the world in various fields and argued that it should become a permanent member of the Security Council.
In response, Koumura expressed his appreciation and said Japan would be willing to contribute even more actively as a permanent member state, states a press release by the Embassy of Japan.
Pradhan held talks with Koumura during brief visit to Japan. During their short meeting, Pradhan explained to Koumura that “the Constitutional Assembly election of November 22 was unavoidably postponed because the political parties failed to reach an agreement.” In response, Koumura expressed his disappointment that the Constitutional Assembly election was postponed, and he hoped the election will be certainly held in due course. Koumura also said that he hoped Nepal would continue on its path to democracy, and Japan would promise to continue its support.
Minister Pradhan expressed gratitude for Japan’s assistance for ballot boxes and the activities of six members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). She also said that she hoped that Japan would dispatch electoral monitors for the fair implementation of the Constitutional Assembly election.
