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Trafficking of young girls and women has plagued this Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal for many decades. It is estimated that over 140,000 to 200,000 young girls and women continue to be grinded in the sex market of Indian brothels in Calcutta, Siliguri, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, New Delhi and Bombay. It seems that all women of all ethnic castes and communities are involved in the sex trade, thus dispelling the existing belief that entry into prostitution is limited to a few communities that have been identified as vulnerable to trafficking.
The photos of Thomas Kelly, Mani Lama and Achinto – taken in Nepal and India – give a deep insight about the trafficking nexus Nepal-India. .....More
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"No matter how hard you try, you won't even come close to understanding our grieves." Najma, a young sex worker. There are worlds within worlds, completely hidden from most of us. Bound by basic curious nature, every now and then, someone takes a peak and comes back with words or pictures, to speak about the strange hidden worlds. More often than not, this results in impressions that seem exotic, foreign, beyond. In the case of prostitution, we either tend to see it as a bad element of society or treat them as people in vulnerable situations. Exactly because of this, we fail to give them a chance to be what they are - ordinary people. Their basic humane aspects and sensibilities are too often ignored. There are also tales that penetrate too deep into their lives and show gross images beyond the curtains - images depicting scenes from their personal or professional lives, leaving no room or respect for their privacy. Or we disguise their identities assuming we are protecting them and in the process, we take away their right to be. In our effort to protect the identities of the 'vulnerable,' we mask their eyes with black tapes, and whether intended or not, make them look like criminals. Sometimes these dark areas are actually dark, but at time we fail to open our eyes. We approach such issues with closed minds and try to fit every thing we see into pre-constructed boxes. Thus, in spite of all the efforts, the daughters of darkness remain in the dark.” Shehzad Noorani
The 39 photos of Shehzad Noorani - taken in Bangladesh, India and Nepal – give a deep insight about their lives. .....More
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“In South Asia, as elsewhere, prostitution and religion have been bed-fellows throughout history. Gatherings of the faithful are gatherings of potential clients. Sex workers are found near all the major temple sites and pilgrimage places, and show up for business at all religious festivals... In many parts of Hindu South Asia, children are dedicated to the ritual service of a temple deity. ‘Married’ to the deity, the ‘sacred servants’ cannot take a human spouse, and many live off the earnings of prostitution. In some cases, as in the deuki system of Western nepal, poor children are purchased by prosperous families and offered to temples in exchange for the deity’s boon of more prosperity. Other systems, as among the Jogins of Andhra Pradesh, are more directly exploitative – here, a wealthy man may pay the family for a poor girl’s dedication and the right to her virginity. Poor families are thankful to be relieved of a daughter’s dowry burden, and in some cases have expectations of living off her earnings as a sex worker.” John Frederick in “Fallen Angels”.
The 7 photos of Thomas Kelly - taken in Nepal and India - give a deep insight about girls dedicated to the goddess Yellamma. .....More
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“The boys realize that they can never return home to their families. Their work is a source of shame and guilt because it violates the religious and cultural code under which they have been raised. ‘In the light of the Quran and Sunnah, this is haraam (unclean) and God destroys a whole nation to punish them for their acts.’ Ironically, this is also the only belief that unites the residents of the area – the boys who sell sex, the pimps, the maaliks and even the clients.
The boys understand that it is only here, around the bus stand, that they are not reviled for what they do, at least amongst their peer group. This place of so much pain is also the only place where they can find acceptance. Like being a victim of domestic violence, a divorcee, or coming from a ‘broken home’, the shame and ignominy they would face in the ‘outside world’ is too great a price to pay.” John Frederick in “Fallen Angels”.
The 8 photos of Thomas Kelly - taken in Pakistan - give a deep insight about the situation of the so-called ‘pleasure boys’ in Pakistan .....More
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“Historical tradition, peppered with myth, legend and misrepresentation, sets the scene for the modern-day prevalence and acceptance of trafficking and sexual abuse of women and children from Nepal. The Rana Kings used to hunt virgins for sport while, at the other end of the social spectrum, women and children from the Badi tribes (historically temple dancers, now “untouchables”) have for centuries been groomed for generational prostitution. Latterly, there is the romanticised image perpetuated by the media of the girl who is trafficked, rescued by brave aid workers and brought home to live happily ever after. Such depictions do little to create understanding of either the trade in women and children or the reality of what future the victims face. The current picture is far more mundane and the reality of being rescued highly unlikely, with the chance of a “happy ever after” life even less likely. Yet, because the abuse of women is woven into Nepali society, it is largely accepted as an unfortunate fact of life.” Peter Bashford in “A Sense of Direction – A Report from Asha Nepal”.
The 6 photos of Thomas Kelly - taken in Nepal and Falkland Road, Mumbai, India - give a deep insight about the situation of the myths .....More
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Transgender communities have existed in most parts of the world with their own local identities, customs and rituals. In the Philippines they are called BAKLAS, among American Indian tribes they are called BERDACHES, in Africa SERRERS and in South Asia HIJRAS, JOGAPPAS, JOGTAS, SHIV-SHAKTIS and ARAVANIS.
For many HIJRAS (considered a member of "the third sex" — neither man nor woman) and KOTHIS (they are regarded as feminine males or men/boys who take a feminine role in sex with men), sex work is the only option because no one is willing to employ them because of their gender identity. Even as commercial sex workers, HIJRAS are the most vulnerable group as they are placed right at the bottom of the hierarchy of sex workers. This results in their having little bargaining power and being unable to ensure that their customers practice safe sex. They are also at the risk of violence both from the customers and the police.
The 6 photos of Thomas Kelly - taken in southern India - give an insight about the situation of the ‘third sex’ in India .....More
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In a unique project the documentary photographer Achinto Bhadra and counselor Harleen Walia guided 126 girls and women through a healing journey of psychological transformation. Achinto’s portraits record trafficking survivors’ imaginative visions of themselves as human, animistic and divine beings of power, love, revenge and freedom.
The girls and women in the photographs, from 8 to 25 years old, are survivors of trafficking, rape or abandonment, or are the children of sex workers.
These are not stories of trafficking and prostitution. These are stories of vulnerability. They record how a child’s fragile web of protection is torn by domestic violence, the loss of a parent or an early marriage, and how that vulnerability is exploited by husbands, aunts and uncles, neighbours and finally, brothel owners. The stories take us beyond poverty as ‘the cause of trafficking’, for many of the children had happy, if poor, childhoods. Instead, we repeatedly see family dysfunction, village gossip, polygamy and misplaced trust resulting in a girl’s descent into an extremely vulnerable situation – from which the trafficker easily harvests her. .....More
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