Five statistics that blew my mind

Around 2013 Rakchya Nepal, an NGO did some survey in many dance bars, cabin restaurants, Dohori restaurant guesthouse and massage parlors. Here in Nepal, these places are regarded as ‘entertainment sector’. Menuka Thapa, Chairwoman Rakshya Nepal estimates there are about 40,000 young girls and women and who are working in 1000 restaurants in Kathmandu. The focus group of this survey was 500 girls and women. The data of this report is included in the a that was published on its 10th anniversary.

1. 98.5% them responded that flesh trade should not be legalized. This contradicts of notion which believes, they want to be in this profession because they can earn fast cash in this profession than other work area. Its learned that, many of them are doing this job due to lack of other job opportunities, which helps them to pick their bill. This is also revealed that this number was increased due to the maobadi war in country.

2. 92% visitors in this entertainment sectors are from Police and Army, whose age range from 31 to 50. People talk in hushed tone in this country they have no trust and respect for our army and police; this survey reveals exactly why. There are people who try to reason, police and army personnel are separated from their partners for long time, which makes them sexually starved all the time. No wonder, they visit Thamel area for their physical needs. This has other side effect, if some girls who are forced in this sector want to move out they can't expect help from these men in power. In case, of exploitation they can't think of going to police stations to complain about the same. Insider talks its army personnel, who are running many such restaurants in Kathmandu. No, wonder client can visit the place without fear of raid from police because they know who are there to protect them.  They don't  earn better in this work, because of the nature of their client. They force them to have relationship with them and if they refuse police will threaten them to raid the particular restaurant. Its a tug of war between power houses and she is in the middle to suffer.

3. 90.5% girls and women are doing this work because there is no single earning member in their family. Had there been an earning member they would not have landed up in flesh trade. Male member of the family were forced to join Maobadi or leave country in search of job if they did not wanted to join Maobadi and this left only female and children in home. So she is the sole breadwinner of her family.

4. 87.5% girls and women who are in this sector do not tell their family members they are in this profession or what is the nature of their work. Most of these girls and women are from other cities of Kathmandu, who landed here in search of job. Because, she keeps her job secret from her family members; so her health issue is at big risk. With little knowledge of AIDS and STD and other related health issues.

5. 86% girls and women responded they stay in Thamel area and only 14% in other areas, surrounding thamel.

Its not that nothing have been done and no steps have been taken to help these vulnerable group of girls and women who are in this work force. Many have been trained in many work and  resettled back in society. Rakshya Nepal is doing lots to help in this area. Providing many types of skill development training to help those who were forced in flesh trade.

Hard time and poverty is what pushing our girls in this flesh trade, to stop huge number to go in and reduce the number of girls/women from so called entertainment sector in the years to come. Let's say about 1000 girls out from this sector every year and doubling that number every year. Lets put it this way, in the first year 1000 girls/woman will be out from entertainment sector and then in second year 2000, next there will be 3000, 4000 and  in 5th year 5000 girls will be out and resettled in society. By the end of 5th year, 15,000 will be out and resettled in society in five years time. And the biggest challenge for us is to stop the same number of girls/woman to enter that work force, unless they chose to be there with all her conscience. That's her right.

No doubt for that we have to have something big to think and work on it. What can we do to stop more girls and women from internal trafficking that will put them in more vulnerable condition to be displaced in other countries ? As news sources tells us many of the restaurant owners and manpower agencies are also involved in human trafficking, having link to Kenya and other countries.

They should start a business that will keep them together for a sole motto to self help and help each other.  So what can be that product ?