Human Trafficking in Nepal and India

The Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) compiled by the US State Department rates Nepal as Tier 2, the explanation of which is that the government does not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Human trafficking is basically exploitation of people in multiple ways. Either for sexual purposes or forced labor through the use of abduction or deception.

Nepali victims are trafficked within Nepal, to India, the Middle East, and other areas such as Malaysia and forced to become prostitutes, domestic servants, beggars, factory workers, mine workers, circus performers, child soldiers, and others. With as many as 5,000-10,000 women and girls trafficked to India alone each year.

 Mainly young girls and women are trafficked for sexual exploitation in places such as cabin/dance restaurants, other places within tourism sector, or massage parlors. Some women at these places entered to do sex-work voluntarily and some began that way but were forced to stay.

An estimated 100,000-200,000 Nepali trafficked persons are in India so it is one of the busiest routes of human trafficking. Nepali girls are especially desirable as prostitutes in India because they are considered more attractive due to their lighter skin color, and because Nepali virgins are believed to be able to cure AIDS. The border is pretty wide making it easy for this to happen and both Nepali and Indians can come and go as they please because of the peace treaty. Experts believe China is also becoming an emerging hub for Nepali victims.

After finding out all this research on human trafficking I am appalled. I can't believe how this is happening right this moment and in this century. What is even more shocking is that this is happening right here in the United States and many other developed countries. Being a female myself I can't imagine what it would be like to be born into that or to be in that kind of situation. I would probably feel hopeless, frustrated, and screaming at the top of my lungs preferring to die than to live. I know that drug cartels and human trafficking is sometimes the only source some people have to survive and being human we are probably willing to do anything in order to make that happen, but what confuses me and I can't wrap my head around is how can someone do something like this to someone else. If we put aside all circumstances we are still all human so how can you not feel compassion towards someone else on a human level. To do something like this is to have a cold heart and it's not being human, but a monster.

Please let's all work together to make this stop. It may not be something we want to hear, but we have to hear it and do something about it.