One of the individuals fighting this battle is Nepalese writer and journalist Kamala Sarup. In one of her articles, Lost Daughters-An Ongoing Tragedy In Nepal, Kamala describes the situation in Nepal as follows: "Nepal girls are cheaper to buy, much more cooperative and much easier to control and enslave. Girls from the rural regions are known to be much more obedient and considered more attractive for brothel owners who may want to resell them." In relation to this problem, Kamala has organized activities addressing issues of HIV/AIDS and sex trafficking in Nepal.
Another recent media expose
covering the issue of
sex
trafficking in Nepal, and India was CNN's
Nepal's Stolen Children, which highlighted and exposed, particularly to
U.S. viewers,
the plight of South Asian victims of sex
trafficking. Southeast Asia is another location where large numbers of girls are
forced into the sex trafficking industry. Indeed, there have been ongoing
reports of girls in the north of Thailand being sold into prostitution by one or
both parents. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia also have many girl victims of the
child sex trade. For example, one of Cambodia's victims of sex trafficking
named Somaly Mam was sold into prostitution at age twelve and, after more
than ten years of ongoing abuse, escaped. Her story can be found in her
unforgettable book, The Road of Lost Innocence, a must-read for
everyone.
The men and the occasional women who participate in the abuse and victimization of children are unconscionable people whether serving as their rapists, pimps or enablers. They must be stopped whenever and wherever it can be done!
Suggested reading:
Half The Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, The
Road Of Lost Innocence: The True Story Of A Cambodian Heroine, by
Somaly Mam; Media For Freedom at mediaforfreedom.com - Kamala Sarup's
website.
