A Situational Analysis of Child Sex Tourism in Nepal (Kathmandu ...

new tourists but there are gangs of paedophiles who come frequently and gather groups
of children. They take them to rooms. In the beginning they provide health services, food
and facilities and later they abuse the children sexually.
There is a child from Basantapur area who was abused by foreigners. He didn’t want to
talk about the event. He wanted to forget but he gave few names of them that were
different from their usual name. So it was hard to search for them. These paedophiles use
a nickname for themselves. The children say these foreigners take them to their rooms,
give them food and love them. Usually, children don’t explain what they mean by love.
They are unwilling to talk. Sometimes they even fear these paedophiles. According to
them these paedophiles are very powerful and they think that they will find and kill them.
The children are afraid.
Big boys who were abused earlier by the tourists have now started abusing the small
boys. They even send small boys to such tourists who ask for them. He had heard from
the children that one of the boys runs a group of 5 or 6 members. They go around with
such tourists. Boys find this easy way to earn money. Female tourists rent rooms in
Thamel and hire male tourist guide for sexual purpose. There was one incident, one
foreigner took few children to room luring them with food and taken their nude
photographs. One of the children escaped and came to the organization. Later the staff
together with the boy went to search but couldn’t find him.
Paedophilia is a face behind a mask so it is very difficult to identify. There are few
suspected cases. It may be present in both organized and informal way. We have heard of
children selling sex in exchange of food clothes and other support.
3.3.2. NGOs working with Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) :
Two NGOs working directly with female sex workers: one from Kathmandu and one
form Pokhara. These organizations provide health facilities, counselling, trainings for
alternative employment, educational support, awareness about STDs and use of condom
etc. The organization also carried out different income generation program to facilitate
the shift to other alternative employment.
They have come across following different levels of sex work that is prevalent in
Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Sex workers living in the street
- Women working in hotels, restaurants, bars, disco etc.
- Students who have come from outside the valley and need money to
maintain their high-expense life.
- Women from rich families; usually husbands working outside the
country.
Their study has shown that among the women involved in the commercial sex work;
more than 50% are minors. The demand in this profession decreases after they cross the
age of 23. The majority of the clients are Nepali themselves but Indians are also the
popular clients. Usually they take these girls to far away villages; stay there for 4-5 days
32 A Situational Analysis of Child Sex Tourism in Nepal