Tiny Hands Nepal – Sex-Trafficking in Nepal: Our partnership with Tiny Hands Nepal

Nepal Photo

Each year in Nepal, an estimated 10,000-15,000 girls are trafficked across the border where they are sold into Indian brothels and forced to become prostitutes. These girls range between ages 7 and 24, with an average age of 15.

Most of the girls are poor and come from villages where they are lured by false marriages, or the promises of employment or education. Many of them are sold by their families. They are usually processed through Kathmandu on their way to the Nepal-India border, where they face a very meager checkpoint.

Others are trafficked into China despite China’s more controlled processes. When they reach their destination at a brothel usually in a nearby city, they quickly learn of their fate. Most of these young girls are virgins, and virgins are more valuable to traffickers (the myth that having sex with a virgin or younger girl will cure HIV and other STDs is common). Consequently, nearly all of these girls are forced to begin having sex with clients within a day of their arrival. Many are gang-raped and beaten to be initiated. Their torturous introduction is designed to ensure future compliance.

Often these girls are forced to have unsafe abortions in the brothel, since many of the men do not use condoms. HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases are very common. After they are found to have HIV, the girls are thrown out. If they return to their villages, they face being ostracized because of where they have been—because of what was done to them. Many times their families will not take them back and their prospects for marriage or a job are very slim. Of those who don’t die of AIDS, most end up back on the street, selling themselves.

Tiny Hands Nepal have multiple years of experience in intercepting these girls. To date over 7,000 girls have experienced freedom thanks to their border monitoring and interception practices. Traditionally focused on the Indian border, Captivating International has partnered with Tiny Hands to commence the same program on the Nepal/Chinese border. Trial programs and research are proving successful with girls being interviewed and intercepted every month from 2 border monitoring programs. This small organization is amazing and we look forward to an expanding relationship with them.

INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL

Sita is Now All Smiles

Sita* (name changed for privacy) was discovered by the police in a traumatized and abandoned state. Despite being transferred to a shelter in India, staying for several months, and taking medication, her mental state did not improve. Due to the language barrier, the India team could not counsel her. The organization contacted various Nepalese NGOs to...




INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL | STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Pimp Targeted Trisha at a Local Fair Market

Trisha* (name changed for privacy), 17, was enticed with a tempting offer: an attractive salary and free lodging in India. She was about to be taken to India by a pimp when our team in Nepal intercepted her.

A month ago, Trisha completed her 10th...




INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL | STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A Man Attempted to Transport Melinda

He came to meet her and asked her to come with him to India without informing her parents.




INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL | STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Sheryl's New Opportunity at Safe Haven

A very crowded family of 15 members makes up Sheryl's" family (name changed for privacy). Her family lives in a remote village in Nepal and they are involved in agriculture and labor work. As a consequence of the weak economic conditions, she was unable to continue...




INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL | STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

An Attempt to Traffic Cielo

Cielo's (name changed for privacy) family worked on farmlands owned by others and were very poor, so her parents sent her to her aunt in Hetauda where she completed high school. Her family is from Dhading and now she is 23 years old.

As soon...




INTERCEPT A GIRL AT THE BORDER | NEPAL | STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING

A Bright Future for 2 Sisters

Two sisters were transferred from Kathmandu to our Women's Safe Haven because they were victims of sexual abuse and internal trafficking.