NEPALPreventing Girls' Trafficking Background Poverty, illiteracy, lack of education and unemployment are the inter-related issues that cause a large number of Nepalese girls to be sold to different brothels in India for prostitution. Globalisation, gender disparity and discrimination against women (victims of religious beliefs/superstitions and malpractices) are also other important factors leading to girls' trafficking and forced prostitution. This tragedy is aggravated by the lack of commitment and political will from state leaders as well as lack of inter-governmental co-operation between Nepal, India and other South Asian countries. Given this context, Nepal YMCA has started its work towards the empowerment women since 1998. Adult literacy, awareness raising and personality development programmes were implemented among the Baadi Community in far western part of Nepal and other marginalised people in the country. The Women Empowerment Committee was established in 1999 and the most significant outcome we received from the workshop relating to girls' trafficking was conducted in 2000 in Kathmandu. Distinguished women leaders from the community, YMCA staff and volunteers presented and passed the resolution to fight against girls' trafficking which is a national problem in itself. Nepal YMCA had conducted various efforts in networking with several NGOs together with Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs to carry out this challenge. The joint internal and external efforts brought positive impact. Finally, the Heads of the States of SAARC countries (South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation) had agreed and formulated the Kathmandu Declaration, which was a commitment to stop girls' trafficking in South Asia. A milestone for the network of NGOs concerned about the issue. Goal of the Project: To prevent girls' trafficking in Nepal and empower women at the grassroots level. Specific Objectives: • Self - employment programs for needy women towards economic sustainability • People's education and awareness raising • Advocacy and creating vigilance against girls' trafficking • Rescue of trafficked girls Program, activities and strategy of the project 1998- 2000 : Educating the Baadi community about sexual exploitation 1999- 2003 : Skills development such as training on tailoring, candle-making training, fabric painting and other handicrafts conducted by Nepal YMCA in different places of the country where hundred of suffering women benefited from these programs. Advocacy Work The YMCA conducted an awareness program in the schools of Hetauda, Birganj, Lalitpur Kavre and Kathmandu. Thousands of leaflets were distributed against girls' trafficking. Students are seen as having a vital role in spreading the issue in their respective communities. Similarly, big campaign billboards against trafficking were placed along the highways in the border areas to prevent girls' trafficking. Contact Person: |
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