Trafficked Girl Endured 17 Years of Sexual Exploitation；Act Now to End Human Trafficking
Surrounded by the breathtaking Himalayas, Nepal attracts countless tourists every year to enjoy its unique natural beauty and cultural heritage. However, behind this stunning scenery lies the sad reality of severe poverty and gender inequality. Thousands and millions of vulnerable girls are facing economic hardships, being deprived of education and the opportunities to develop their potential. Many even helplessly fall victim to human trafficking.
In Nepal, many vulnerable girls are struggling with poverty and gender inequality. Many helplessly fall victim to human trafficking.
In September this year, I visited Nepal again. Through in-depth interviews with the survivors and victims, I learnt about the impact of human trafficking, as well as the important work that Plan International has implemented to fight against this issue. The border between Nepal and India stretches 1,750 kilometers. For decades, criminals have used the lax border as a route for human trafficking, resulting in countless girls losing their freedom and youth. Currently, approximately 1.9 million people in Nepal are at risk of being trafficked. Trafficked girls may end up in child labour, forced labour, violence and abuse, and even forced into prostitution.
The border between Nepal and India has long been exploited by traffickers, leading to the loss of freedom and youth for countless girls.
A Mother Trafficked to Kuwait Daughter and Youth Join Forces to Rescue Her
In Banke region in western Nepal near the Indian border, I met 20-year-old Shina^ and her mother, Robina^. Their story reveals the harsh realities of human trafficking and allows me to truly understand the severity of the problem.
With her father died early, Shina grew up in a poor family. Her mother earned a living by selling goods on the street, barely earning enough to support the family. To support her daughters’ education, Robina decided to work in Kuwait but fell into the trap set by a fraudulent agent, and was sent to a landlord upon arrival to Kuwait. Robina was cut off from any external communication and had not received any income for months. I can hardly imagine the anxiety and fear Shina endured while her mother was away, as she also had to shoulder the responsibilities of taking care of her sisters.
Shina had a tough start in her life and needed to shoulder family responsibilities at a young age.
During my months in Kuwait, I was forced to work long hours, surviving on only one meal a day, and suffering repeated violence from my landlord due to language barriers. I was even locked up in a room.” Robina recalled. Desperate for help, she finally managed to make a phone call to her daughter Shina in Nepal, crying that she could no longer endure her life here. She also told Shina that the hopeless situation almost pushed her to commit suicide. Hearing this, Shina was deeply frustrated and immediately sought assistance from the Youth Club supported by Plan International. Together, they successfully brought Robina home.
Shina realised the trauma that human trafficking could inflict, and could no longer step back and watch her friends fall victim to being trafficked. Determined to make a difference, she joined the Youth Club as an advocate in the community, raising awareness about human trafficking through educational activities like drama, short films and workshops.
Shina shared her desire to improve her community and is determined to join the Youth Club, hoping to share her story and warn other girls of the potential dangers of human trafficking.
Girl Drugged and Trafficked to India, Enduring 17 Years of Sexual Exploitation
Samikshya^, who lives in a rural village in Nepal, was forced to drop out of school due to poverty. At the age of 16, she was approached by a stranger claiming to be her sister’s friend, who told her that her sister urgently needed care because of a serious illness. Anxious and worried, Samikshya decided to take the train to visit her. However, as the train moved, Samikshya fell unconscious and later found herself trapped in a small room with other young girls, never seeing the light of day again. ” She pleaded for help but was not able to escape.
As the train moved, Samikshya fell unconscious and later found herself trapped in a small room with other young girls.
After being drugged and trafficked to India, her youth came to an abrupt end, plunging her into 17 years of sexual exploitation. The long years of sex work brought physical and mental trauma to Samikshya, and she suffered a serious illness that left her paralysed. 17 years later, as she finally regained her freedom and returned to her hometown, hoping to reunite with her family, she was completely heartbroken to discover that her parents had already passed away, leaving her with a lifetime of regret.
17 years later, Samikshya finally regained her freedom and returned to her hometown, hoping to reunite with her family. She was heartbroken to discover that her parents had already passed away, leaving her with a lifetime of regret.
Uncovering Trafficking Traps and Rescuing Deceived Girls In Time
To tackle the human trafficking issue, Plan International and our local partner have set up information booths near the border. Since 2019, nearly 900 residents at risk of being trafficked were rescued. Every day, counsellors at the booth closely monitor the streets near the border and identify suspicious trafficking cases.
“In recent years, we usually came across cases where traffickers lured girls to India with tactics like job opportunities and marriage. Girls came from different villages went through this main road to the border. Every day, we approach suspicious vehicles to conduct checks. When we suspect a girl is being trafficked, we immediately provide counselling support and help them identify the potential danger of human trafficking in time.”
That day, I joined the counsellors in stopping suspicious vehicles to question the girls about the purpose of their travel. As I observed the counsellors listened to the girls’ stories and provided advice carefully, I realized that these brief moments of conversation could be crucial for rescue. Through their checks and counseling services, girls suspected of being trafficked could be intervened and saved, practically changing their futures one by one.
Counsellors spotted a suspicious vehicle, and immediately approached it, asking the girls and other passengers to show their identity and explain why they were crossing the border.
Accelerating Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking
According to the 2022 Nepal Human Rights Report, approximately 40,300 Nepalis were trafficked between 2020 and 2021, with most of them being women and girls. In light of this escalating crisis, Plan International has been actively collaborating with local partners to implement educational programmes in the community. Through activities like dramas, short films, and helplines, we are raising awareness among women and the youth, enabling them to identify human trafficking risks. At the same time, we empower young people to become anti-human trafficking advocates, encouraging them to raise awareness among peers and others in their own communities.
Due to serious poverty issues and the evolving deceptive tactics employed by traffickers, human trafficking remains severe in Nepal. We hope to gather more resources and accelerate efforts to help girls stay away from trafficking.
Girls Are Not Commodities, End Human Trafficking!
Please join hands with Plan International to ensure that every girl can grow up in a safe environment, restore dignity in their communities, and have equal opportunities to pursue their dreams.
HK$4/DAY SAVE GIRLS FROM HUMAN TRAFFICKING
From now on until Dec 31, as a token of appreciation, donors who sign up for our Girl Sponsorship Programme and Girls Fund monthly programme will receive the following special gifts (first come, first served).
^Names have been changed to protect identities.
