Hi all,

Regarding last week topic about Nepali child prostitution, has just made me aware (not to mention sick) about the reality of the situation. Actually, I didn't even know about Maiti Nepal organization that helps these kids till recently. Seems like there is actually a website dedicated to Maiti Nepal here in Sajha..but it's a little one and I actually didn't realize it was there until I decided to see if Sajha had any website for it at all. Admin, could you please maybe put up those charity links up where people can see better? I know its too much to ask to put the porno pix in the bottom of the page, so I will ask if you can just put it a little down and instead put those charity boxes up.

And lastly, ladies and gents, please help donate to Maiti Nepal.

Oops! Here is the link to the website:

http://www.friendsofmaitinepal.org/
http://www.maitinepal.org/

Thanks for taking the initiative, Xena! Lets hope others follow suit.

I have a good experiance about Maiti Nepal. Once I was going to visit my parents in terai from Kathmandu and in Thankot some ladies came inside the bus and they questioned some ladies who were traveling including me just to see if we are not taken to India or soemthing like that. I am not sure how effective thier this mission is but at least they are doing something!!!

Thanks Xena for starting a conversation on this topic.

It is so disheartening to know the worst form SLAVERY still exists in our country. We are so caught up with new Nepal paradigm and all the political changes but have no conscience when it comes to real issues at hand. Where is the compassion?? Isn't it a part of our heritage that we are so proud of?? We are talking about our children here!! I hope not all of us have become ignorant to that extend.

Save the children and Maiti Nepal are making courageous efforts but they need our help. Please help in anyway shape or form you can...if nothing else please help us raise awareness. sexual exploitation and slavery of women and children must be stopped if we truely want to build a prosperous soceity.

I've complied my posts from the previous sajha thread on trafficking and formed it into an article below. Please read, then copy and paste the entire article into an email and forward it to all on you contact list and ask them to forward it to everyone on their contact list. Lets get the chain going as today will be the day we will make a difference in someone's life.



The Himalayan Curse

The issue of trafficking Nepali girls and forcing them into prostitution has been around for years now. Correct me but I haven't heard of any initiatives being taken by the government (past or present) to eradicate this sick, sick mentality of the people who sell such innocent victims, often their own daughters or wives. I seriously think that the restrictions on the borders should be much stricter. This open border shit with India has caused more emotional/mental, physical and cultural costs than all the financial benefits combined.

I hope to see this dark saga end someday and Nepali village girls everywhere could live a life of hope.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? By raising awareness as I feel that it is the sole key in this case. This is not only a Nepali issue but also concerns the Indians as well. They need to know of the atrocity that is taking place in their own yard. Our politicians somehow need to make this agenda among the top priorities and go to the Lok/Rajya Sabha to enlighten the Indian politicians which MAY make them take up some measure on their side as well. Only once the demand is curbed on their side, will the supply of these innocent minors decrease. This is not going to happen overnight but it can always start within the lowest levels (e.g.: discussion boards, college seminars, mass e-mails, etc.) and then slowly in time once massive awareness kicks in, the issue could come to the forefront (it should've by now but somehow, somewhere the movement has faltered).

As statistics have put it; more than 30 girls are sold daily...That makes it 10,950 a year and for the past 15 years since Maitinepal (one of the few combating vehemently against this trade) was formed, it equals a whopping 164,250 girls!! Imagine 164,250 and that too at the low end of the spectrum as girls were being sold even before maitinepal was formed! Can't imagine the hell ALL these girls had to go through and moreover, since such a massive scale of people are being affected directly by this trade, why isn't the UN or any other developmental agency involved? Not enough awareness I guess.

Lets now find a way to change this for good.

~Please forward this to all the people on your email list and ask them to forward to all the people on their list. www.Maitinepal.org needs our help right away and you can visit their site to find out how. My brethren, let the awareness begin with you today!!

Most people who have access to internet are already aware of this kind of things. The ones who are not aware are the ones who are being affected and they live in remote parts of the country where education and internet are not accessible.

Posting in an internet forum is not going to do much good as lont as the victims are uneducated and information not easily accessible in those parts of the country.

We can however brainstorm ideas on how to be of help somehow.

The Nepali ones with the internet access are aware, you say? What good is it if they keep that knowledge to themselves? Since we can't assume that everyone knows about the issue, the best we can do is to let all people know about this situation (and they don't have to be Nepali). These could be your co-workers, your college classmates, you local sports team-mates, etc. If you have a Internationall day at college, talk about this Nepal and then bring this topic about or in your classes too, you could always refer to this topic (as it relates to economics, sociology, geography, as far as even speech-class). Take down their email/coontact and let them know that this type of shit still takes place in your country. Who knows, some may even contribute to Maitinepal's cause which is what we want here (I got some of my college friends into the whole thing).

All the situation needs is a little more awareness as the more there is, the better!

Here is the good news :)


US grants to combat human trafficking in Nepal
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, March 18 - The U.S. Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons is awarding a total of $672,610 in assistance to three organizations in Nepal working to combat human trafficking.
The U.S. Government is committed to the fight against trafficking in persons, which includes modern-day slavery involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation, a statement issued by the US Embassy said Wednesday.

According to the statement, Save the Children and Maiti Nepal will be provided a one-year $197,750 grant to strengthen and expand community-based anti-trafficking strategies through awareness and safe migration initiatives.

Likewise, Daywalka Foundation will be given $465,360 in two grants: the first project is to improve the investigation, management and prosecution of trafficking cases. The Foundation will build capacity in the collection of data on trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and criminal judgments, the statement added.

Similarly, the US will provide a $9,500 grant for data collection on the nexus between trafficking and foreign employment of Nepali citizens to the Nepal Institute of Development Studies.

I SUPPORT XENA.