Life Histories and Survival Strategies Amongst Sexually Trafficked Girls in Nepal

Abstract

Many girls involved in sex work in Asia do so because they are compelled by economic circumstances and social inequality. Some enter sex work voluntarily, others do so by force or deception, sometimes involving migration across international borders. Nepalese girls involved in sex work via trafficking are the focus of this article, which aims at increasing our understanding of the context of sex trafficking, the methods and means of trafficking, living conditions in brothels and survival strategies among trafficked girls. Girls trafficked from Nepal to India are typically unmarried, illiterate and very young. Key routes to sex trafficking include employment‐induced migration to urban areas, deception (through false marriage or visits) and abduction. Past initiatives towards their needs have adopted a welfare approach; such initiatives alone are inadequate as they ignore the importance of empowerment of women in the migration process and skill development in community re‐integration. Anti‐trafficking interventions need to be considered at (i) community level before movement begins; (ii) urban centres which are both source and transitory centres for trafficking; (iii) trafficking level when girls are highly mobile and in brothels; and (iv) return from trafficking as girls to move back into the community.

Conducting sensitive research in the present and past tense: Recounting the stories of current and former child domestic workers

“…They did not appear to have been interviewed in acknowledgement of the unique perspectives that their 'former' status may offer. Of the remaining nine papers which included former child workers (Bastia, 2005;Cleveland, 2010;de Lange, 2007;Evans, 2006;Fischer et al, 2005;Hilson, 2010;Jacquemin, 2006;Kudrati et al, 2008;Simkhada, 2008), only three reflected (even briefly) on the methodological and analytical implications of doing so (Cleveland, 2010;deLange, 2007;Evans, 2006). Finally, only five studies included both current and former child workers (Evans, 2006;Fischer et al, 2005;Hilson, 2010;Jacquemin, 2006;Kudrati, et al 2008).…”

“…to former workers as a data source given the perceived 'limitations of memory' (Maclure and Denov, 2006, p. 122; see also Simkhada, 2008). The literature on oral history provides an insight into the character of memory and particularly the influence of time passed on informants' accounts of trauma.…”

Sex trafficking in Nepal: women’s experiences of reintegration

“…Patriarchal values, socio-cultural and economic structures, gender roles and power differentials, poverty and lack of education, as described above, are the major factors said to make women vulnerable to trafficking in Nepal (Mahendra et al 2001;Simkhada 2008). These factors are likely to impact on women's attempts to reintegrate into Nepalese society.…”

“…Research also shows that returnee women are often stigmatised and rejected when they return to their communities (Mahendra et al 2001;Chaulagai 2009;Jha & Madison 2011). Formerly trafficked women often face difficulties in obtaining citizenship (Laczo 2003;Buet, Bashford & Basnyat 2012) and women may return to sex work (Simkhada 2008;Locke 2010).…”

“…In the Hindu belief system women tend to be viewed as: 'no less than a property and asset that could be discarded whenever the feeling arose, regardless of the fact of her being a sister, daughter or mother' (Basharat 2009, p. 244). Because Nepalese girls are viewed as the property of males, they are commonly trafficked by male family members (Poudel 2003;Coomaraswamy 2005;Thapa, 2008;Simkhada 2008).…”