Women trafficking and Prostitution in Nepal

Women trafficking and prostitution has been a well developed and complicated obstacle for Nepal. Every year thousands of women from Some are lured away from broken homes by “recruiters” who promise jobs to poor people in the city and some marry them and cheat them by selling them in brothels. different parts of the country are trafficked to India and different parts of the world. These women of different ageing group are trapped and exploited through the sex industry in various ways.

After being removed from their families, the unfortunate women’s are forced into a life of prostitution where their willingness doesn’t stands.

In most of the cases these women are beaten, tortured and in extreme cases they are even murdered which fo

rces them to take prostitution in their daily life.

Generally women involved in sex work or prostitution commonly face problems like increased risk of HIV/AIDS, risk of sexually transmitted infections, risk of unwanted pregnancy, vaginal tearing, vaginal cancer, rape and physical abuse, confinement etc which shows prostitution as a major violation of women’s rights, where a women is treated as an objects of entertainment or a means to satisfy sexual fantasies. The emotional pain of being treated this poorly can lead to depression and resignation.

So to endure their misery, many of the women’s turn to drugs or alcohol. Those who do survive often have emotional scars and are left incapable of loving, trusting, or enjoying the warmth of human embrace.

The women and girls who test positive for HIV

Though reality is the society somewhat accepts these groups of women depending upon the environs but if we look at it with a closure view then everyone is not so lucky./AIDS and visibly sick are immediately dismissed without money, are either ostracized by their families or unwilling to go home. Some of them stay in foreign lands to die, while many of them come home in different rehabilitation centers where after different counselin

In Nepal prostitution and any activities related to flesh trade is illegalg and training they are returned to their guardian.

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so the trafficker in search of good market for the women take them across the border.

Once the girls are placed in a brothel, the traffickers charge the girls for their room, board, and all other living expenses. As a result, the girls live in a cycle of perpetual debt, unable to free themselves from servitude. Apart from that if they get caught during a

raid, women are brought into a country illegally so their employment, as well as the particular nature of their employment, is illegal. The ambiguous legal status of victims is one of the traffickers’ most powerful protections against prosecution so the traffickers are generally free of burden.

The trafficking of young girls and women is linked to their low cultural status. Since they have limited economic opportunities, girls are especially vulnerable of being trafficked unknowingly and unwillingly. The lack of economic alternatives for girls and ingrained cultural beliefs regarding gender roles makes young girls particularly vulnerable to trafficking. Seventy percent of the trafficking women are thought to belong from ethnic minority groups such as the Tamang, Gurung, Magar, and Sherpa. Women and girls from Nepal’s Hindu majority communities constitute about 10 to 15 percent.

These days the middleclass family women’s tendency in going abroad and working is increasing due to attractive work and handsome salary. These women unknowingly get trafficked into countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf states and have to deal with domestic servitude, forced labor and sexual exploitation.

In Nepal different laws regarding trafficking are there as such,

The constitution of 1991 clearly states in, the Right against Exploitation in Article 20(1) specifically prohibits any trafficking in persons: “Traffic in human beings, slavery, serfdom or forced labor in any form is prohibited. Any contravention of this provision shall be punishable by law.”

More over the Human Trafficking Control Act of 1986, which prohibits the trafficking of girls and women? Trafficking is defined as “An act of threat, incitement, and sale of women for the purpose of prostitution.” Those found guilty of trafficking face 5-20 years imprisonment.

The 10th SAARC Convention held in Kathmandu in 2002 passed a Convention on preventing and combating trafficking in women and children for prostitution 2002. These conventions are committed to protect and develop the rights of women and children. As a signatory nation Nepal has obligation to implement these conventions as a law of the country.

Today due to huge efforts of the government and other organizations has made progress in its efforts to prevent trafficking. The government has identified 26 high-priority districts as source areas of trafficking and established anti-trafficking “Vigilance Committees.”

The most common areas Sindhupalchow, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Dhading, Khavre, Sunsari, Morange, Illam, Rautahad, Dhunasha, Siraha, Mahendranagar, Baiki, Bardi etc are at high risk of the pandemic of Trafficking.

Harka maya name changed was rescued 1 yrs back in a raid of police from the brothels of India, though currently after her rehabilitation and training, she lives happily in her home town but still when she was asked about the those days in brothel then her eyes got wet. Still today the shadows of those dark days haunt her. The evidence of the ruthlessness of trafficking can be seen clearly on her skin where one could clearly see the scares. Recalling those days she said life was doomed in the name of fate, with every day going through hell and endlessly waiting for a morning of hope, you feel helpless to believe Life is hell and you are cursed to live it.

According to her the problem of trafficking cannot be solved by awareness campaign and because the traffickers are professional people who are born inside the society they are also a part of society and until and unless these people are discouraged we cannot solve the women trafficking.

Fourteen-year-old Urmila Tamang name changed is from a small village in Chitwan, Nepal. A woman from a neighboring district approached Urmila’s unsuspecting parents in 2002 with promises of a lucrative circus job for their daughter in Varanasi, a city in northern India. Ignorant about human trafficking, they sent Urmila without enquiring further about the nature of the job. There, Urmila endured a year of labor exploitation and sexual harassment as an acrobat and tight rope walker.

The woman who had lured Urmila away from her family was encouraged by her success and contacted two other girls to entice them with similar tales of riches and luxury. They recognized these overtures as trafficking and shared this information with their facilitator who subsequently notified the police. The woman was arrested and confessed that she had taken many girls to the circus for undue personal gain.

The Previously in the past years the trafficking of women in numbers was estimated from 5000-7000 women in a year which currently has increased to an estimation of 8000 a year, which to some extent is surprising as today a number of national and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations have been working on the issue of trafficking in Nepal. Though a large amount of resource is spent every year by these organizations in combating trafficking, however ever year the number is increasing which to some extent seems to be unexplainable but to some extent reasons like conflict situation, discrimination, open boarder, unemployment, illiteracy, falls marriage etc are more responsible.

Women trafficking in Nepal day-by-day is getting to the stage of acute and grooming in various forms with the pace of development and movement of the world.

Currently in the conflicted affected areas huge numbers of people are migrating from their place to center headquarters due to security reasons, which has resulted to overcrowded situation. Moreover, these people are mostly not educated and if they are educated then the problem of unemployment is there, so usually they choose the easy way to earn money that is prostitution and some in terms of earning more money get trafficked.

Another major cause of prostitution is some are even forced into prostitution by their own parents in a desperate attempt to earn extra money. Poverty often creates intense desperation, and parents sometimes sell their children in exchange for food, shelter, and other necessities of life.

Paradoxically, the fear of AIDS has led to the ongoing search for younger girls, who are thought to be more pure and thus safer. “Awareness of AIDS among potential customers has driven the sex industry to supply more and more young girls, who can be sold as virgins and therefore AIDS-free. As a result, younger girls (ages 8-12) are being forced into trafficking. Another reason for the demand for younger girls is prevalent cultural myths. For example, many Indian and Nepali men believe that sleeping with a virgin will cure them of STDs.

The Government of Nepal is committed to tackling the problem of trafficking and the violation of children’s and women’s rights. The government has sustained its efforts to combat trafficking in persons. However, these commendable anti-trafficking efforts are hindered by political instability and lack of leadership.

Grasping the fact of growing problem of trafficking different laws are made for combating trafficking in Nepal which will be proven to be an effective tool for drive against trafficking. Moreover the establishment of different women activist organization like Forum for Women Law and Development (FWLD), Maiti Nepal, LAAC etc has helped government to realize the potentiality of the problem.

Maiti Nepal a leading INGO which has been helping women’s to rescue from different aspect of violence from both inside and out side the country. Maiti Nepal is presently engaged in protection, rescue, and rehabilitation of survivor of trafficking. They have been involved in awareness campaign among school and colleges, VDC and concerned agency. Currently this organization has been shouldering the community with its three prevention homes, ten transit homes at different boarder area and a hospice community outreach programme and community awareness program in different parts of the country. According to them the main obstacle to overcome the trafficking is at first the bailment on security should be cancelled, second the rule of property confiscated form guilty should be adopted, third the punishment should be increased to life imprisonment and then people will realize the value of law and punishment which would psychological divert them from doing such inhuman crime.

This problem has not only put question mark in the reality of women’s right by challenging the whole gender equality issue but has been seeking answer for those women’s who live out and feel the hell. We cannot deny this fact that still today the exploitation of women is in rise in the name of entertainment. The real thing is we can just talk this matter in conference and seminar sitting in a five star hotels with in an a/c room but the truth is we cannot even imagine of what is happening out there or happening it to us, as reality always bites.

Today the tourism industry is growing up with its full aptitude and within the tourism industries business like Massage Center, Dance restaurant, Cabin restaurant are also growing accordingly, which blind folded is giving brace to sex industry or prostitution. As a study shows that Nepal has also become a high risk for both tourist and from tourist, the tourist industry is at particular at risk from the pandemic because of the mobility of the work force, the presence of sex tourists, and the heavy reliance of the country upon its tourism revenues. Some people have contemplate that potential tourists’ fear of HIV/AIDS could discourage them from visiting this countries, while others have even suggested that tourism should be discouraged because of the growing prostitution as it contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other transferable sex disease.

Prostitution within the tourism is a complicated obstacle to overcome, especially because of its wide-reaching international scope so a heightened awareness of this atrocious violation of women’s rights may help to restrain this growing problem.

Mana Maya a cabin bar restaurant dancer at Putalisadak says that life of a dance girl is very hard for them as every day they are both physically and verbally abused and sometimes they are even sexually harassed by different people. For people like Mana Maya life is extremely hard as most of the women working in dance and cabin restaurant are not literate and they have to depend on whatever other say, and since they are uneducated they are bound to follow this path giving it the name of survival.

Though women trafficking and prostitution is a problem but actually it deals with in our own society which cannot be underestimated and under marginalized. This type of problem cannot be solved with in an individual basis, where every effort from the civil society counts and in a society like our where no one doesn’t cares about anything until and unless we bear it our self has a far high scope for such heinous violation of women’s rights.

So today a time has come when we all realize that trafficking and prostitution is not a problem of an individual, it’s a problem of society which haunts each and every woman inside the society and if appropriate measures are not taken against it. Then it will be worst in future which would put a question mark on the identity of the 21st century women.

Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Scratch me says the HEAD………….

Odd or wired or may even sound absurd but hey we all do it at times. Scratch me, says the HEAD and out of the blunder you just take your hands to do it, logically making sense giving the impression of oh ya, I’m just putting my hands on my head and it dam feels good.

To be more precise and specific, scratching head is renowned as the normal form of expression of “Not knowing a thing.” But to defy the fact that people do scratch their heads for showing different emotion and feeling is a different scenario. You feel lazy and you do it you feel excite and still you do it, so what is the metaphor behind it.

People just scratch their heads in different perceptions and times. It not only shows the lack of enthusiasm but a more provocative answer is they are not feeling good or are not worried or are feeling lazy. Contemplating the situation never do it in front of a group of people as it is said as a sign of ignorance and idiocy but who cares when you want to do it you just do it and man it feels GOOD.

Think of the first thing that you do when you get up then, you scratch your head what a start with an expression that is unknown. You just feel comfortable to address yourself within its periphery that you do it every day and still you fail to notice it.

Generally most of the times people scratch their heads when they think, is it? I’m confused or May be it is this? Whatever the expression is you do it to be comfortable with the situation. I think it’s a way of the unconscious mind in making yourself accustom to the unknown situation to say hey I’m just trying!!!!!!!!!!

It has a wide variety of meanings and applications according to time and situation. Though it sounds nominal and eccentric but the truth lies hidden within us, as we all in some phase of our life we all have scratched our heads to know what is true . It can also amplify a simple notion which tells us that when a person is not comfortable.

If you are also not being irked then scratching head can be an effective tool to get attention as one will surely assist you to divert his or her attention. We just scratch our head to have fun to defy the fact that we are lonely and in case of embarrassment. It is just normal to scatch your head and in the race of today’s world of being someone other than you, you certainly need a dose to be normality, to balance it. So scratch your head to make yourself feel comfortable.

Be wise to say hey I do it coz I’m NORMAL….

Travellers Quest-A new travel website launched

Travelling has been a behavioral attribute of humans from prehistoric ages. Their existence and survival has been subjected to the availability and adaption. This trait has been transcended in the modern people in form of travelling and volunteering. People have been traveling to different countries especially to the third world to serve humanity and facilitate the idea of VOLUNTEERING. In their quest of knowing themselves they push their modern lifestyle aside and search the neediness of making their life meaningful by helping others. Learning ways of life and acting to face technical difficulties in the third world scenario they opt for various volunteering and travelling programs. Volunteer abroad and travelling has developed as one of the trendiest aspect of human psychology that exerts the modern lifestyle and perception. With the attention and prospect the field itself is growing with more or less threats. In today’s modern tech world, Google has made everything possible. The human understandability and research has been limited to just a button, that can be obtained in seconds. The world of search engine is very wide and vague. Once you press the button with the keywords you have loads and loads of eccentric answers with the option of what to believe and what not to believe. Like such today volunteering and travel abroad has grown to a wider prospects adapting the web. With loads and loads of options available all over the world there pros and cons are ruling in to create a definite image.

Travellers Quest a new travel directory has been launched with the concept of effective and precise travelling. The directory is focused to carter different groups of volunteers, students, travel and enthusiasts with its wide network and collection of travel programs all over the world. Currently the website has different segments like Volunteer Abroad, Study Abroad, Internship abroad, Language Abroad, TEFL Abroad, Gap year and Teach Abroad where interested candidates can get valid and prominent information regarding programs and travel destinations. With inbuilt features like personalized search and keyword search one can have effective travel schedule within seconds. Moreover, the user friendly interface and easy navigation makes it easier to operate.

Jems Mc Lane, a travel researcher said, “I use to search Google for volunteer programs and the result thrown back at me were number of pages with uncertain organizations, but Travellers Quest has certainly made it easy to search for specific and topic related programs within seconds. I feel excite as I can search my options to look for the best among what is available.”

According to the organization, “Travellers Quest is the world’s largest travel directory. It’s a network of travelling opportunities where we create business among our own network. We are FREE of cost and our business works on recommendations and DEALS. We promote you and in return we create opportunities.”

The webs site has more than 30,000 travel program in more than 200 countries all over the world.

Who is right is the question and we Nepalese are bound to suffer the consequence

Kathmandu Jan 25: The city came to a dead stop with the students union “SHUT DOWN PROGRAM”. From early morning most of the shops and markets were closed and it was reported that the protestors had forced the shops and markets to close at different locations. The protestors were seen active in and around government colleges.

The security personals were seen high on alert where till date no casualty or confrontation has been reported. On Wednesday´s evening the agitator also conducted a bike rally just to spread the news. The protesters have made it clear that they would not sit for talks with the government unless the price hike decision is considered. They have also threatened to launch a nationwide program if their issues are not addressed.

“The students union of the 13 political parties had issued a 24-hour ultimatum starting 10 am Thursday to reconsider the current price hike in petroleum products and to facilitate the poor and needy with the necessary relief, but since the government didn’t addressed their issue, we are protesting,”said one of the protesters.

“we’ve been voicing for the uniform system to check and balance the prices of petroleum product. The recent price hike on petroleum products have certainly made it clear that the Government making a unanimous decision is not admissible,” added he

In a current state when the country is going through tough political crisis and political parties lacking understand, such acts has created a bad image of the political culture. The voices of the student union may or may not sound valid but it certainly question the weak political behavior and practice that we Nepalese are bound to suffer where the top political leaders and parties make the decision and on the same their youth organization do shutdown program against their own affiliation.

Who is right is the question and we Nepalese are bound to suffer the consequence ………….

12 CAN ICT Conference to be hosted by ISOC Nepal

Internet Society Nepal (ISOC Nepal) in association with Computer Association of Nepal is about to host the 12 Computer Association Nepal ICT Conference here at Hotel Annapurna from January 29 to 30 with the theme ‘Internet is for everyone’. The conference will focus in major areas of infrastructure, internet content, security, law and policy and e-able services and applications adapting and understating the current scenario.

According to Baburam Aryal president of ISOC Nepal, “This conference is first of its type, though in the past there has been many conference conducted on various topics but it is the first time where we are bringing so many international experts and that too to talk about Internet. We believe internet has been a daily usable commodity and it should be catered accordingly at all levels. This conference will not only help to understand the current scenario and problems but it will also help to lay foundation for the future.”

The program would highlight international experts like cyber law expert Dr. Subhajit Basu Director of LLM Program at the University of Leeds in UK, Mr. Alok Singh, CEO Novatium Solutions Pvt Ltd, Vinish Kathuria, Vice President of Ericssion India and Rakshit Tondon, CEO, Tandon Solution Provider, India.

The 2 days conference is also suppose to hold various discussion programs on Internet and Freedom of Expression: Social Media Perspective and Issues and Challenges of Implementation of E-Governance Initiatives in Nepal.

According to ISOC Nepal the registration fee for participation is NRS 4000(USD 50) where different fellowships are available.

Are Men more superior than Women

SUPERIORITY, the word whenever is used gives a different sense of domination and rules with a force. The survival of human beings today highlights their SUPERIORITY over nature and time. Moreover their efforts and aspirations certainly focuses on the cliché of a static growth and development of their struggle and hardship.

In this context when I define SUPERIORITY in our current scenario then most of us would think of MALE DOMINATION or MALE SUPREMACY. The sense that hypes SUPERIORITY in men is generally due to their physical or metabolic structure. But regardless of that, whenever SUPERIORITY has been called upon in a discussion the ruling party has always won not by being gender bias but due to of their brain capacity and logic in support of the vulnerable and weak.

Are Men superior to Women?

It’s just not that all the men they have a dominance capacity? Or god has granted a special blessing to men and has cursed women, rubbish is the ideology that supports the orthodox mentality.

Its absurd to think men are superior to women just by their metabolic structure except for that women have everything equal than their counter part. Frankly if you ask me, I would say both of them are equal depending upon their brain capacity and logic.

The whole issues of male domination and male SUPERIORITY is a psychological problem that we still have in our society, as we were taught from our childhood that men are more superior and dominant which prolongs in developing a cluster phobic psychology of a feministic question. It creates a vacuum that never lets her go out of it; in fact it traps her and kills her confidence and eagerness.

It’s just the sense which is backed by the belief of a weak mentality who tend to pass on their distorted beliefs and saying from generation to generation while giving it the name of culture and tradition. This kind of stigma in the name of culture is worsening the scenario of creating a weak women presence in our society. As the women of 21st century are equipped with high and good skills, they can and have the ability to do anything. Apart from that looking at her image from the mythological aspect also women represent KALI or DURGA the form of SHAKTI who can defy her meaning.

In this chase of SUPERIORITY the example of the rabbit and the tortoise is a perfect story that not only highlights the SUPERIORITY of rabbit as being the fastest runner against the slow tortoise but shows the perseverance of the tortoise . So from this small vintage story I am not trying to say that men are the rabbit and women are the tortoise but the point is who ever uses his or her brain wins the game of life. The question of vitality and presence is more important than some distorted or orthodox belief of saying men are superior. Reality is women are not just capable but they are the leaders of the 21^st century making and gaining prospects and opportunities.

More often if you look at their, life span they do everything from being a mother to sister to friend both before and after marriage but men they just play a definite role, the dominant. We are always backed up by our counter parts in different forms to say we are men, where as women are always independent and self sustained.

So when I say women have lets men to dominate then I would not be false but on the same side it would be a understatement in a meaningful of saying both of them need each other in every possibility to make life happier . And I believe that’s what matters to be happy than to look or search for definite answers of knowing who is ruling.

If we look back to our history then there are loads of examples which show the capacity and capability of women being an effective leader which shows their SUPERIORITY. Few of the names that comes to mind in talking about modern women are John of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Madam curie, Jhasi Ki Rani, Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Pasang Lamu Sherpa etc. All these women from the history have shown tremendous amount of courage and skills which to this day stands as a symbol of womanhood and their achievement acts as the standard.

They were the trend setter of their time where they marked their path with their own skills, and capabilities, simplifying their reality of being a woman, what more can you expect they were normal superior women.

In a country like our’s where the economic condition is not good and literacy is not even 50%, it mostly targets women group in depriving from their basic rights. It has created a psychological depression of not being independent and not having education. So to overcome this problem a heightened program should be started to reach each and every women of the country. The key to overcome the problem is education, in fact the woman of 21st century does not describe of individual persona or outer look but she describes her freedom of mind and her independence. She should know her rights than to know about anything else.

Though today gender equalization has been a hot topic of discussion but still whenever it comes on practice it always sidelines the main issue of WOMEN IDENTITY and her rights of knowing it. Weakness to some extent can be reasoned as the men domination where everyone is ready to focus towards problem but we fail to realize the solution that WOMEN need their IDENTITY . when we fail to realize her rights then she fails to identify herself. Then She fails to realize who is she and her presence.

Growing Tourism Industry and its Consequences

Every year millions and millions of travelers from around the globe Travel to different parts of Asia for the natural Beauty, Cultural heritage and untouched wilderness, in their quest of thrill and adventure. Though tourism industry has been proving boost in the developing nation, a less glamorous aspect of the tourist industry, however, consists of thousands of tourists and businessmen who travel overseas in order to engage in sex with or take pornographic pictures of women and children. Sex tourism or, more specifically, traveling to a foreign country in search of sex, has become a well-developed component of the commercial-sexual exploitation of women.

Although there is some commercial sex abuse in the United States, it is much more prevalent in developing nations Like Nepal, India and Thailand where there are huge possibility of tourism as brothels can employ girls ageing 7 to 17 are quit in hike due to the inflow of the arrivals (tourists). We cannot deny this fact that still today the exploitation of women and children are in rise in the name of entertainment, often women and children of different ageing group are trapped and exploited through the sex industry in various ways. Some are lured away from broken homes by “recruiters” who promise jobs to poor people in the city. After being removed from their families, the unfortunate women’s and children are forced into a life of prostitution. Others are forced into prostitution by their own parents in a desperate attempt to earn extra money. Poverty often creates intense desperation, and parents sometimes sell their children in exchange for food, shelter, and other necessities of life. Many of these women and children are beaten, tortured, or, in extreme cases, murdered. Women and Children involved in sex work commonly contract sexually transmitted diseases or die of AIDS-related illnesses.

According to a study done around the world, millions and millions of Women and children enter the sex trade or sex industry each year, though the gender equality gives right to women’s to fully live their life with freedom but still in most of the parts of the world the future of these women lies in doom in the name of fate, with every day going through hell and endlessly waiting for a morning of hope.

So what are the reasons that characterize the definition of sex industry inside the tourism?

The cheap airfares, the opening of countries once closed because of war or politics, and the advent of the Internet have provided more opportunities for tourists looking for sex partners as poor countries are often under strict economic pressure to develop tourism as a source of income. Sadly, sometimes those governments “turn a blind eye” toward this devastating problem in pursuit of that income. Countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam have been well-known destinations for such tourists, but now Thailand, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka are gaining similar reputations. This epidemic is quickly spreading to other poverty-ridden areas of the Eastern Asia,

There is this misconception that having sex with a virgin will cure HIV which has been bringing people in search for sex although it’s not true but to some extent has affected in the rise of sex tourist. In some Asian and African countries exists a distorted belief that children are less likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, These notions are unfounded and false. In fact, the average rate for HIV infected women and children rescued from brothels are 50 percent, and some rates are as high as 90 percent. the perception of seeing condoms as culturally and socially taboo has also increased the number of HIV and I am really sorry to write this but rumors like these are often created by people with in our society to just increase there business.

Another reasons for the increasing sex industry inside the tourism is the lack of proper rules and regulation which generally fortifies the sex tourist to travel to such country where the rules and regulation are at ease or flexible.

If we look psychologically into this matter then we could understand the relativity of the problem as travelers may view the women and children engaged in the sex industry as inferior, or justify their behavior by convincing themselves that there are no social taboos regarding having sex with women and children in the country where they are visiting and feel free from the social constraints of their home countries, and thus be more likely to perform inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors but no matter what the reason is, sex industry is growing with the tourism.

Sex Industry with in the tourism is a complicated obstacle to overcome, especially because of its wide-reaching international scope so a heightened awareness of this atrocious violation of women’s and children’s rights may help to restrain this growing problem.

Nepal is one of the world’s fastest-growing adventure destinations and researchers believe visitors have become “high-risk” as they lower their inhibitions when go abroad, though tourism provides enormous potential for sustainable social and economic growth and development of the countries. Unfortunately, it also represents inherent threats like HIV AIDS, Sex industry etc.

Today the tourism industry is growing up with its full capacity and with in the tourism industries business like Massage Center, Dance restaurant, Cabin restaurant are also growing accordingly, which blind folded is giving brace to sex industry.

As a study shows that Nepal has also become a high risk for both tourist and from tourist, the tourist industry is at particular at risk from the pandemic because of the mobility of the work force, the presence of sex tourists, and the heavy reliance of the country upon its tourism revenues.

According to news published on the BBC world, it’s shocking that there are huge possibilities of sexual infection of HIV/AIDS between guides and travelers which signifies as a threat to the potential tourist. Some people have contemplate that potential tourists’ fear of HIV/AIDS could discourage them from visiting this countries, while others have even suggested that tourism should be discouraged because of the growing sex industry as it contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS and other transferable sex disease.

Though it’s quit palpable that every thing has two aspects, good and bad. But the thing that really matters is the bad aspect and if potential control or monitoring is not given then in long run might trigger the detrimental elements. The growing tourism industry will characterize the alteration in the social cultural living standard of the people and show its direct effect in the community or society and social economic structure of the country with no option to stay out of.

Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Migrant worker died due to carelessness of authorities in Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal: Bhunti Maya Magar is one of the foreign migrant workers who had returned to Nepal from Saudi Arab who died on August 20th Saturday morning at 1:45 AM in Teaching Hospital. She started bleeding in the hotel where she was taken to hospital and she died on Saturday. She is survived by 4 children as her family. According to her death certificate issued by the Teaching Hospital, she had ARDS with Multiorgan Failure as the main cause of death. She is one of the documented migrant workers who was sent to Kuwait as domestic migrant labor. In the investigation of Bhunti Maya Magar it has been noticed that she departed to Kuwait on 18 March 2011 where it shows that she had a prior existing visa from 1st April 2009, to 31st March 2011. She was issued a foreign employment permit by the Government of Nepal Ministry of Labor Transport Management -Department of Foreign Employment on 2011 March 04 for Kuwait. She departed from the Tribhuvan international Airport on 2011 March 18 for Kuwait. Then she received another travel Visa from Kuwait to Saudi Arab on 2011 April 05 for 90 days where she arrived on Kathmandu on 13th August 2011. Looking at her schedule and VISA it seems very impractical and illegal as she was a migrant worker so she didn’t go to Saudi Arab for travel she went there to work on Travel VISA which itself is illegal. There seems to be a network of people who have been channelizing people for such illegal works.

The main problem in this case that comes upfront is the authorities who lacked to monitor the deceased migration process. Apart from that the most important issue that has come up is after her death she was found to be 8 months pregnant. So when she left the country five months back she was 3 months pregnant already which she had conceived in Saudi Arab which can be assorted from her VISA. The Immigration policy suggests that any migrant worker going abroad should go through a thorough medical test where they lacked to notice her pregnancy. The carelessness of the authorities has certainly highlighted the case lack of seriousness of the authorities towards the issue of migrant workers and the policy of Government.

Sources at the Department of Foreign Employment states that the total number of Nepali migrant workers who went outside the country in fiscal 2010-11was 354,716 including 10,416 women. The last year numbers included 38,000 workers returning to their jobs after taking a break in their homes. According to data provided by NHRC, three women died of exploitation and abuse in 2008-09, and 20 in the last year. Only 29,000 women migrant workers are recorded with the Department of Foreign Employment while independent estimates put it at 140,000. Similarly, the Non-Resident Nepalese Association, states 140,500 Nepali women were in overseas jobs in 2009.

Manju Gurung President of the Pourakhi- Nepal, said, “We don’t encourage people to go outside, but we ask the foreign migrant workers to be skilled and to enquire about their jobs that they are doing. So that when they are there, they can hold their dignity and earn their respect. There is a good market of Nepalese laborers and workers in the Middle East it’s because we Nepalese are very loyal and honest but due to lack of proper training most of the worker have to suffer. It’s very natural that when you spend quality amount of money then you expect good service for that and if that is not fulfilled then certainly you would have issues. In this field the most important role is the role of the agent who knows the people and they are the once who coordinate the workers to the placement agencies. First we have to target these agents and aware them, if they are aware then thing can change.”

“Reality is women going abroad is not just a condition but it has emerged as a problem in every prospect of its opportunity. The rises in case of women being exploited and attacked are taking its toll where every day we are hearing cases of women death or torture. We need to develop a serious mechanism to counter this problem, “added Gurung

In the Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait the demand of Nepalese migrant workers have also increased. According to data 71,116 workers migrant workers migrated to Saudi Arab, 44,464 and 15,187 in The UAE and Kuwait during the fiscal year of 2009-2010

Aasha Lama President of the Aasha H4 Foundation said, “Nepalese women are very strong and they have been respected in their own fields but the way they are exploited is majorly due to our lack of skills and other carelessness. When we talk about foreign migrant workers then policies are not just enough. We need stronger mechanism to curb this problem. One thing that the government should understand is just by issuing the permit and creating better policies won’t solve the problem. We need to have effective mechanism to tackle the problem. As the problem is associated with migrant workers that start after the migrant workers leave the country when they are in foreign land where they have no support. Yes we need specific policies about making our worker going abroad with certain skills which should be made compulsion so that they would have something to hold on to their dignity. We have too many policies but at ground reality we lack adaption so we should focus more towards adaptability and consequences than the modality of policies. It’s a situation of disgrace when a Nepali woman gets exploited or is stranded in foreign soil, and it makes us feel sad to see a woman facing such situation where we want to save and rescues women and we are doing an effort. We just request the government of Nepal to make a good mechanism to handle the problem.”

“All women organization working on women issues should come together with one voice and one agenda about safety and protection of women within Nepal and overseas. Life and Death of Bhunti Maya is a tragic tale of Nepalese woman struggle for survival and ultimate death which cannot be denied at any point. We need to raise question with our government about how secure is TIA security system in controlling Women trafficking? And how many Bhunti Maya have to die to bring change in this country.” added Lama.

With unfolding the case of Bhunti Maya the Foreign Employment Promotion Board handed over NPR 65,590 (Approximate USD 1000) to deceased family of Bhunti Maya as compensation.

Regarding Bhunti Maya there are so many issues raised with her death she was 8 months pregnant and whether she was a victim of sexual exploitation, harassment or torture or she had conceived the baby with her own permission the question lies unrest with her death. Apart from that the issue like illegal visa, lack monitoring mechanism and lack of carelessness showed at the TIA immigration is a question that also searches ground reality. One Bhunti Maya’s death certainly makes no difference when there are thousand to spare let’s see what the government will do regarding the issue of foreign migrant worker.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Thamel transcending to a Red Light Area

Today, Thamel has developed itself as an epicenter of entertainment and glamour. From its origin, it was established with the theme to satisfy the needs of tourists in every desired way, in-fact it caters all sort of entertainment from visual to physical to mental giving the stance of it being a hub. Likewise, today it has transcended itself to a new hub of glitter and glamour where it wakes-up in the night showcasing a new exhilaration and excitement in satisfying sexual needs and wants.

To be precise the growing numbers of Massage Centers and Cabin Restaurants in the periphery have created an attraction for young men and teenagers from around the valley in habituating a craze of sexual activities in its abode.

Namgyal Lama, President of Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) said, “Thamel is a tourist hub, the way it is expanding and exploited with such social hazard activities has been a question to all. It has become a red light zone acclimatizing all its sexual activities in name of commercialization.”

Currently, there are more than 30 Dance Restaurants and 200 Massage Centers in Thamel where majority of such involve in sexual activities highlighting and giving stance to its audacity. On one hand it is against the law to sell or buy sexual activities whereas on the other it is directly creating a social menace.

In same view Lama stated that the issue is very sensitive and outsiders cannot help it, in-fact the Thamel residences should initiate an effort, which would be worth and effective. “In a tourist hub like Thamel where more than 2400 businessmen pay taxes, the government should give priority and security”, he added. We have formed a committee named Thamel Reform Committee (TRC) to channel the local bodies to clean such harzards. We are in the process of action.

He suggested, “Firstly, the activities of massage center and dance restaurants should be limited to professional level having no alternative for sexual activities and secondly there is no scope of dance restaurants in Thamel, as it does not interest the tourists and foreigners so it should be controlled. Moreover, the people of Thamel should be aware that just by paying an extra buck they should not rent their houses to such dance restaurants and massage centers.”

In today’s context when the sexual activities are openly run in such hub, the social scientists have already predicted a dramatic impact in the socio culture status of the society. In view of Tapan Kumar Dahal, Inspector of Sorkhutta Police Station said, “We are very trapped in situation of dilemma as when we raid on Massage Centers and Dance Restaurants the pressure groups like NGOs, INGOs and other women oriented organization gives us pressure and when we don’t take action, the public blame us saying we are working in hand with such group.”

Just few days back, during a raid in 8 major massage centers at Thamel, 26 girls and 9 guys were caught red handed in sexual activities. The girls caught aged from 18 to 35 where on investigation they reasoned poverty, lack of employment and illiteracy as their prime reason for involvement, according to Dahal. “This is just a beginning as we have initiated a full house operation where we do detail investigation,” he said.

Focusing on the professional ethics, he said that it is the duty of the Police to clean out such social menace and we are fulfilling it with a proactive and progressive approach. Moreover the public and police department should work together in such issues, which directly affects the societal values, norms and law.

From few days the Massage Center and Dance Restaurant issue have been raised, creating a media sensation of sex tourism and it effect but still the question of its legalization and implication lies hidden and un-addressed.

Similarly, Prof. Dr Rudra Pd. Updhayay, Central Dept of Economic and rural Development T.U Kirtipur said, “Sex tourism is a part of tourism which cannot be denied but sex industry is such controversial issue that it cannot be bypassed. From it origin sex industry has coherently adapted the culture and society. So the question of totally eradicating is impossible rather it can be controlled and regulated in a specified form.”

“The increase in sexual activities in Thamel and other hubs are the direct effect of inflation, violence and displaced situation. Moreover, women and sex industry is a sensitive issue which needs to be addressed with higher priority where women exploitation should be well address,” said Dr Updhayay.

Though Thamel has totally adapted the modern theme of tourism and entertainment, it lacks effective measures of monitoring and controlling which has resulted in such social deteriorating state. Perhaps the question of sex and sex tourism in tourism industry stands as a question seeking an answer.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

SAVE THAMEL

Picturing the perfect scenario of tourism, Thamel potrays the real image of a tourist hub where more than 2500 business runs acclimatizing the sole theme of serving the tourists. No matter what, tourism being a service industry has been catering the needs of tourists and visitors adapting it in the most profound way. Like such, Thamel as a hub, provides availability of things ranging from food items to entertainment for tourists. There is no doubt that Thamel is the most happening destination in the whole of Kathmandu but, with time, Thamel has seen many changes and not all of them are good ones. Lately, Thamel has become a notorious destination among domestic and international tourists as sex business center.

The different orchestrated centers like dance bar restaurants, cabin restaurants, massage centers and discos are mushrooming in Thamel which is posing a great threat to the overall image of the country. As most of the tourists visiting Nepal still prefer to stay in Thamel for the name it has earned over the years as a popular hang out place for tourists. However, the sex business in Thamel has intensified so much that after dusk, the scenario changes where it stages itself with an illusive image of explicit paradise. One can easily understand the worsening scenario by looking around the growing numbers of sex workers and brokers wandering freely in the street of Thamel.

Namgyal Lama, President of Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) said, “The first thing that we should understand is that Thamel is changing very fast in to becoming an entertainment hub. Previously, it was just thought as a tourist hub but today it has commercialized where different businesses are run. We totally agree that if Thamel is not properly managed and monitored, it would certainly turn out worse in the years ahead.”

Lama informs more, “A new problem of walking prostitutes has arisen in Thamel. Many of the tourists have complained of such encounters in streets of Thamel. It needs to be controlled by the authorities before it gets too late.”

“Although prostitution is illegal in Nepal, it is going on unabatedly. In addition, the basic thing here is about clear policies where the government lacks to provide an effective mechanism,” added he.

Tourism provides massive potential for sustainable social and economic growth and development of the countries. And many tourism experts argue that there is a huge potential in the sex industry to allure tourists in any country. Unfortunately, it also invites inherent threats like HIV AIDS and other STD’s.

In February 4, 2005 (Friday), the BBC News website quoted, “The sexual behavior of Nepalese trekking guides and tourists is to be the subject of a study by researchers at Aberdeen University.” Perhaps, the situation has worsened in the years.

According to a broker in Thamel, “The question here is not about availability, the question here is about people’s mentality. The government should take strict measures and control it. One must see the problem from different angles to analyze the situation.”

He stressed, “We do this for living and we do not have much choice left. Besides, it is an easy way to earn. And it is same with the sex workers. Most of them are compelled to sell sex. From time to time the Indian tourists do visit these brothels and more often their guests have been Nepalese.”

“I have heard the whole racket run in association with in the cooperation of Police. Every month, a large sum of money is channeled to police officers for facilitating their work. The whole network runs with the help of money power which sluggish to higher level officials,” he added.

There have also been reports that even police officials are involved in these businesses indirectly. Many of them make hefty money out of these businesses for not conducting raids.

On the same, defending the issue, Basundhara Khakda, Inspector at the Sorhakhutta Police Station said, “When I first came to this station. Like a normal person, I had a different image of Thamel as a tourist destination,” adding, “Sex business is however not the only problem in Thamel. Recently, two dance restaurant owners for over billing where from time to time we have been monitoring such activities since,” informed she.

“We have launched a Quick React Team (QRT) for effectively handling the situation where our team is leading the action for prominent results. We have been holding operation in Thamel in both duty hours and off-duty hours to find out more irregularities. Apart from that recently, we had called all the dance restaurant owners and had discussed the issues of inappropriate sexual activities happening in such centers. They did agree to stay according to rule. If they cross it, then we would certainly take action against them,” added she.

Regarding the allegation for police, she asserted, “I am not bothered by what people say. It is part of my duty to work for the people with in the legal periphery and I would always be marching in that direction to achieve my goals where the wrong doers would certainly be brought to the book.”

There is no doubt that the high number of displaced because of the past conflict has led most of the young girls to choose sex work for living. Owing to lack of opportunities, these girls start their sex career right from as early as 13. To begin with, most of them start from cabin and dance restaurants. And slowly they take to prostitutions by force or any other reasons. From interviews, most of them don’t fancy their job as sex workers but are compelled to do so to meet their expensive daily needs in Kathmandu.

Prof. Dr Rudra Pd. Updhayay, Central Dept of Economic and rural Development T.U Kirtipur said, “Sex tourism is a part of tourism which cannot be denied. Perhaps, sex industry is such controversial issue that can be regulated but it cannot be controlled which need to be understood and worked on. Especially in Nepal, where sex is taken as taboo, the problem is inevitable looking at the growing tourism scenario. The increase in sexual activities in Thamel and other hubs are the direct effect of inflation, violence and displaced situation.”

“Thamel is a booming hub and all the business inside it are interrelated which need to be understood. Another reasons for the increasing sex industry inside the tourism is the lack of proper rules and regulation which generally fortifies the sex tourist to travel to such country where the rules and regulation are at ease or flexible. Like wise, It is also attracting sex tourists who are not only bringing a limited resource but unfortunately they are also bringing diseases like HIV/AIDS which needs to be addressed by heightening awareness,” added he.

He suggested, “TTDC should initiate a proper mechanism with the stakeholders to regulate sex businesses in Thamel.”

Approximately, there are more than 30 Dance Restaurants and 200 Massage Centers in Thamel alone. However, not all the dance bars and massage parlors are using sex as their prime product. Regardless of high risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV-Aids, the sex industry in Thamel is growing in an alarming rate. Now the time has come that the government should take some serious steps regarding prostitution and other sex related activities in the country in general and Thamel in particular. Those illegal brothels need to be identified and closed down. The time has also come for public polls on whether to legalize prostitution or not. The situation as of now is only risking the health of public and the sex workers and if this issue is ignored that may have deadly impact on the society as a whole researcher’s have contemplated that potential tourists’ fear of HIV/AIDS could discourage themselves from visiting such places and which might displace the tourism businesses from Thamel to other place as what happened to the Freak Street. Therefore, effective measures should be taken in a coordinated way to make a Thamel a better place. The TTDC should play a role to take further initiatives in bringing concrete solutions to this problem before it gets too late.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

Publication: Nepal Traveller Publication

Magzine: Nepal Travel Trade Reporter

Date of issue: March 10-23, 2008

Vol-X