Stop trafficking

Illiterate women and innocent young girls are being lured with promises of employment abroad and sold into the brothels of major Indian cities and also in the Middle East. It is a fact that the number of girls and women forced into the sex industry, has increased during the last few years. The main reasons for this unfortunate state of affairs are: the open Nepal-India border system, acute poverty and ineffective laws to deal with traffickers and those who force young girls and women to indulge in flesh trade. As a result of this situation, many innocent girls and illiterate women have fallen prey to local pimps or middlemen and found themselves in brothels. From time to time, reports of traffickers being apprehended and women being rescued do appear. But it is known to all that the problem is growing faster than the efforts to bring it under control. Thus it is clear that the government has failed to take action against these pimps and middlemen.

A survey conducted recently by International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF states that pimps and middlemen lure more than 7000 Nepali girls and women every year to foreign countries for the purpose of sex trade. Currently, there are over 300,000 forced Nepali sex workers, including minors, living in inhuman conditions in the various brothels of different countries. Of them, more than 200,000 are in Indian cities and quite a number are in Gulf countries, particularly in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The daily ordeal of each girl who is confined to a room is that she has to have sex with over 25 people. Most girls sold for sex trade are as young as 12 years. Besides, there are also married women with children. Most women who had fallen victims of traffickers are from Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Makawanpur districts. However, the situation has changed since the menace has penetrated even the remote and backward areas of the country. It is said there are over 1000 Nepali sex workers in Gulf countries. Most of them had left the country in search of work with the consent of their parents but now find themselves trapped. Acute poverty, lack of education and dearth of economic activities are the main factors

forcing them to seek employment opportunities abroad. Unfortunately, many of them who work as domestic helpers either end up in sex trade or become victims of sexual abuse. If girls who are sexually exploited become pregnant, they are sent to Bangladesh for abortion and taken back once they are found to be safe for sex.

The number of girls forced into this trade has been increasing. Therefore, the government cannot allow traffickers to lure girls into sex trade abroad. It must not only stop this activity but also introduce measures to prevent innocent girls and women from being trapped in the hands of criminals. For this, it has to allocate economic packages for backward regions, provide employment opportunities within the country and implement compulsory education for girls. Until the country is economically strong, flesh trade will continue to remain as a major socio-economic problem. The border must also be monitored properly and for this, it had better start taking the necessary measures.

Don't risk democracy One has heard a lot about the Paras Shah case over the past couple of weeks. If it was indeed the prince who hit Prabin Gurung's bike (this qualifier is necessary because of the testimonies of Mrs Gurung and Khadga Bhujel), then it is wrong. There is no question about it. But my point goes beyond that.

We live in a dualistic society. The same MPs who leave no stone unturned when it comes to save their cronies are furious over the Prince Paras case! There are many documented evidences (the police seem to agree) where MPs and even ministers are directly involved in covering up cases of dacoity, flesh trade and violent crimes. Where is their morality in such issues ? The same prime minister, ministers and MPs who were outraged over the Mohan Niraula Issue are not so vocal when the prime minister himself makes irresponsible comments about the parliament being invaded by smugglers. Where is the issue of morality then?

I am not, and no one should, condone the mess that the "Paras Shah incident" brought about. However, one has to agree that for morality to prosper in a civil society, the leaders should lead by example. Unfortunately, it has not been the case in the past ten years, and as a result, these incidents keep on repeating.

It is sad that the post democracy era has not been what the people had hoped for. Our politicians have always seemed to be confused with their priorities in the wrong places. Democracy may be the best system of government, but only when the people responsible for governing have high morals and superior leadership skills.

Rather than always being scared of an "impending coup," it's about time our leaders begin to get things straight. If the system is strong enough and works for the people's benefit then the people will never let it down. If our leaders and politicians fail to set their priorities straight, it will not be long before democracy itself will be at risk.

Bichar Nepali
Kathmandu