Prostitution, the act of having sexual relations in return for cash or other advantages, is a difficult and divisive subject in Nepal. Prostitution is common across the nation despite being against the law.
Sex workers in Nepal confront a variety of difficulties that deprive them of their fundamental rights due to the debate, social stigma, and illegal status of the profession. Both the state and society have failed to acknowledge their existence and treat them with fundamental human rights.
History of prostitution in Nepal
In Nepal, sex labor has a lengthy and complicated history. The Badi community, which is regarded as a lower caste and a "untouchable among untouchable," is where sex workers in Nepal first appeared.
The majority of Badi people still engage in prostitution today as they have in the past. The Badis are thought to have first arrived in western Nepal in the 14th century from India. They used to rely on performing, dancing, and singing for a living up until 1950. They were helped by affluent upper-caste families, who used to give them basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter in exchange for entertainment from the Badis. But things have become worse since then.
They are viewed as untouchables by society, which prevents them from obtaining entry-level positions. In our society, when asked about prostitutes and Badi women, people act quite innocently and unnaturally, as if they know nothing. However, there are various questions because human trafficking continues to be a major issue for the nation.
They are viewed as untouchables by society, which prevents them from obtaining entry-level positions. In our society, when asked about prostitutes and Badi women, people act quite innocently and unnaturally, as if they know nothing. However, there are various questions because human trafficking continues to be a major issue for the nation.
The current circumstance
Nepal is well-known for being a place where human trafficking originates, transits, and ends. The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2008 makes prostitution a crime in Nepal even though the government has made measures to combat these crimes.
Many women and girls continue to be coerced into the sex trade despite the laws because of poverty, a lack of education, and a lack of job options. There are around 40,000 sex workers in Nepal, according to the Family Planning Association of Nepal. 1300 of them with HIV; the bulk of them are employed in Kathmandu and other urban regions.
In Nepal, there are many issues that affect the fundamental human rights of sex workers. They frequently experience sexual and physical abuse at the hands of customers, pimps, and law enforcement. Due to their limited access to healthcare services, they also run the risk of developing STIs. Additionally, a lot of sex workers experience discrimination and social stigma from their families, communities, and society at large.
While some sex workers in Nepal choose to engage in the industry, many of them are either trafficked, abducted, or in many cases sold by their own family members and parents. They encounter numerous issues throughout the procedure. People still believe they have an easy job despite the fact that their lives are filled with hardships.
Society's perception of them
The social perception of sex workers in Nepal is also nuanced and frequently unfavorable. Both within their own groups and by society at large, sex workers are frequently stigmatized and subjected to discrimination. Prostitution is generally thought to be unethical. Actually, sex workers are frequently held responsible for their own victimization.
Sex workers experience considerable negative effects from stigma and prejudice, which makes it difficult for them to obtain basic services like healthcare and education. Additionally, it can result in violence and abuse from both clients and the police who are supposed to be protecting them.
In Nepal, sexuality is frowned upon. Sex discussion goes beyond social norms. People do not accept them in society as a result.
Available support and assistance
Worldwide decriminalization of sex work has been demanded by international organizations including the World Health Organization, which has acknowledged the rights of sex workers. Several organizations have emphasized the significance of safeguarding sex workers' human rights, particularly their right to a safe workplace, access to healthcare, and freedom from discrimination.
A number of international organizations also offer assistance and services to sex workers in Nepal. One regional network that supports and advocates for sex workers in Nepal and other Asia Pacific nations is the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW). The APNSW strives to advance sex workers' rights and lessen the negative effects of sex work, including as violence, stigma, and discrimination.