Local Action to End Trafficking in Women in Nepal

Abstract

Born in Nepal in 1961, Mrs. Shanti Adhikari has completed her B.A. in Economics and a graduate degree in Women's Studies at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Uni versity. Currently, she acts as president of CWISH, Children and Women in Social Service and Human Rights, in addition to co-ordinating the Women's Section of the NGO Federation of Nepal. Mrs. Adhikari also represents her organization as an active member of AA TWIN (the Alliance Against Trafficking in Women and Girls in Nepal). Refuge asked Stefanie Gude, who recently returned to Canada from working in Kathmandu, Nepal, to interview Mrs. Adhikari, to provide important insight into the current state of trafficking in Nepal. A campaign has been instituted throughout Nepal, orchestrating the sending of 200,000 letters to each SAARC head of state. The letters express the views of concerned Nepalese people about the trafficking of Nepalese citizens, and the lack of action by SAARC countries to prevent its occurrence. In 1996, a SAARC conference held in the Maldives addressed the subject, but none of the activities upon which that conference agreed have since been implemented. AA TWIN presented its concerns again in June of this year, prompting an agreement by leaders to abolish trafficking in the region. The letter campaign has succeeded in drawing the attention of all SAARC heads of state to this major issue. Refuge: Which socio-economic factors do you believe contribute to the trafficking of women and children in Nepal? ShantiAdhikari: A lack of education on the part of villagers, lack of employment opportunities, and the lack of social status held by women and children. Many families are conscious of the decision to send their girls to Bombay, stepmothers and uncles often playing a significant role in sending the girls away. Some girls are lured by the chance to receive money. While few actually make money, many are beaten and abused. well as looking to open a hostel to make it possible for them to leave such homes. Refuge: How does AA TWIN approach the struggle to end trafficking? What is its role as a lobby group in relation to SAARC (the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation)? Shan ti Adhikari: AATWIN is a network of 17 organizations fighting against trafficking. It has carried out many advocacy, protest, and training programs. On the last Friday of each month, members of AA TWIN wear black dresses or saris as one form of protest. Thousands of pamphlets have also been distributed, in a massive effort to educate the public about trafficking. AAWTIN hopes to continue harnessing the energies of committed people and organizations dedicated to solving the problem of trafficking. AA TWIN is currently co-ordinating a concerted effort to inform the public in those regions where trafficking takes place. The communities in such regions are visited frequently, and women and girls receive information about methods of operation used by the traffickers, in the hopes of preventing contact altogether. Returnees from Indian brothels are questioned about their recruitment, and efforts are made to arrest and punish their abductors. Stefanie Gude for Refuge: How would you describe the work of your organization? ShantiAdhikari:CWISH strives to empower and improve the conditions of children and women who, due to forces of poverty, ignorance, and exploitation, are deprived of economic opportunities and social status-indeed, of their human rights. As well as working to stamp out trafficking, CWISH is teaching young children, many of whom work in tea shops and at other menial jobs, to read and write the Nepali language and script. This is for the purpose of enabling them to provide their families with assistance, by earning money outside of the home. CWISH has also been provided with a teacher and looms, to teach girls to weave. It is common practice for Kathmandu households to search the villages for young girls to work without wages in city homes. These girls are often badly housed, given few clothes and no opportunity for education. CWISH is training and educating such girls, as CWIN (Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre) c