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workers are HIV positive. 14 This means that nearly one of
every two women or children trafficked from Nepal to Mumbai
will eventually suffer from HIV/AIDS. In a 2007 study, the
percentage of repatriated Nepali sex-trafficked girls and women
who tested positive for HIV was 38%. 15
Who are the perpetrators
The primary perpetrators are the brothel owners who make
large money selling the bodies of enslaved women and children
for years and years. The ‘trafficker’ who supplies victims to
the brothel owners is a smaller figure. Research has shown
that the brothel owner makes up to 20 times more ‘profit’
than the trafficker for each trafficked person. 16 Unfortunately,
most legislation and law enforcement in Nepal and India have
focused on the trafficker and not the brothel owner. Customers
are also major perpetrators – for if there is no demand for
sex workers, there would be no supply. Recently, Nepal has
enacted legislation punishing clients for engaging in sex with
sex workers. However, Nepal does not have explicit laws that
make it a greater offence for clients to engage in sex with
trafficked persons.
TRAFFICKING OUTSIDE THE REGION
What are the destinations outside the region
For a number of years, Nepali children and especially women
have been trafficked to countries outside the region. In earlier
years, out-region trafficking was primarily noted to Hong Kong,
Nepali men are also trafficking victims
Many Nepali men voluntarily travel to Malaysia, the Gulf
states, Israel and South Korea for labour. After arrival,
some face conditions of forced labour, including nonpayment
of wages and physical abuse. Some end up in debt
bondage, unable to repay the exorbitant fees charged by
manpower agents in Nepal. Other Nepali men have been
trafficked into forced labour in Iraq after being promised
work in the U.A.E. or Kuwait.
Malaysia, Korea and Japan, with some trafficking to the Gulf
states. 17 Although some incidents have occurred, Western
countries have never been a primary destination of Nepali
trafficked persons. As with trafficking to India, the picture of
out-region trafficking has recently changed. The Gulf states,
Israel, Lebanon and South Korea are now the primary outregion
destinations of Nepali trafficked persons. 18
Why are women and children trafficked to those places
Today, girls and women children are trafficked outside the
region for commercial sexual exploitation, exploitative domestic
service and other exploitative labour situations. There are
reports of women being trafficked to Korea for marriage. 19
2010 Terre des hommes www.tdh.ch 19