According to the U.S. State Department, 10,000 to 15,000 children are trafficked to India from Nepal for sexual exploitation every year. Others call Indian-Nepalese border the busiest human trafficking route. Additionally, city of Mumbai has the largest red light district in the world. The demand for sex trafficking of young women and children is high, and many are trying to take advantage of the profits by luring unsuspecting victims from neighboring Nepal and other countries. While many are hungry for money and do not think twice about lying and kidnapping girls from their families to sell them into brothels, one woman is on a mission to intercept and rescue young women and children from sexual slavery. Her name is Anuradha Koirala, and she heads up an organization called Maiti Nepal, which is loosely translated into “Mother’s House.”

Maiti Nepal started in 1993 as a collaboration of teachers, journalists, and social workers. Since then, over 12,000 young women and children have been rescued from brothels and streets, intercepted at the border, and given a fresh start in life. Together with providing rehabilitation and training skills, the organization seeks social justice for the sex trafficking victims by assisting in catching and convicting trafficking criminals. Many rescued women and children return to their homes, but many stay at the Maiti Nepal shelter to receive training to be able to provide for themselves until they are able to do so. Additionally, many rescued survivors take on the organization’s mission and participate in campaigns to educate about sex trafficking and to rescue others from sexual slavery. Some of them travel to the Indian-Nepal border to intercept trafficking process. Maiti Nepal also opens their doors to women and children who contracted HIV while being sexually exploited, providing hospice care and allowing them to die with dignity.

Maiti Nepal’s mission is a noble one. Survivor of an abusive relationship herself, Anuradha Koirala works to rescue victims of sex trafficking, provide a safe environment where women and children are restored and healed, and where they can receive training and guidance to begin new lives. The organization operates with the support from numerous groups around the world. In 2010, Anuradha Koirala was included in CNN Heroes and her story and efforts are featured on the news company’s website.

Sources Used:

http://www.maitinepal.org/pages.php?option=About%20Us

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/29/cnnheroes.koirala.nepal/index.html?hpt=C1