Mohammad Khairul Alam
Executive Director
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation
24/3 M. C. Roy Lane
Dhaka-1211, Bangladesh
rainbowngo@gmail.com
Tell: 880-2-8628908
Mobile: 01711344997
Human trafficking is an issue of international concern, one of the worst forms of girls trafficking relates to the sexual exploitation of girls. The sexual exploitation of girls is a wide term, which encompasses prostitution and trafficking for purposes of sexual abuse. It differs from girl sexual abuse in that there is some form of commercial transaction. It is this commercial transaction, which has led to prostitution and other forms of girl sexual exploitation being tackled as a labour issue, rather than as girls abuse for it.
Trafficking & HIV/AIDS is interrelated, especially women and girls are trafficking for use of sexual industry. Most of trafficking girls would face several physical & sexual abuses. When a girl or women newly enrolls a sex industry, she tries to safe herself heard & soul, but most of the time they couldn’t free her.
Trafficking to girls’ prostitution is increasing but the issue is not proper recognized by the government. There is no adequate information or research document in the area that can convince policy makers for taking appropriate actions. The increasing trend of the root cause of girls prostitution such as poverty, socio economic vulnerability, in appropriate education and shortage of funds to solve the magnitude of the problem, lack of clear policy and guidelines and weak implementation existing policies.
Adolescent girls trafficked to India are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, because of India is the second largest HIV/AIDS infected country in the world, more then 5.1 million people are living with AIDS or HIV. India is a neighboring country of Bangladesh, about four thousand miles border surrounded by two countries, the major portion of which do not have any natural barrier. It is estimated that half of the girls in Mumbai brothels who are under the age of 18 years have been infected with HIV. Although without being trafficking, every day many people cross border movement take place both officially and also illegally. Due to reason of that great chance to spread out HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh.
A survey conducted by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation that the girls forced (trafficking) into the brothels do not want to return to their homes once they are into it for more than one year. Such girls believe, they would be victim of social stigma and face discrimination from the society. They also believe, their family would suffer several social taboo, self-respect, and social-dignity.
We can’t imagine how many girl, women and children are being trafficked every day from Bangladesh. The Human rights organizations in Bangladesh estimate that more than 20,000 women and children were trafficked annually for the purpose of prostitution, and more than 50,000 women and children were estimated to have been trafficked into India annually, most for the sex trade. Kushtia, Jessore and Rajshahi borders are the safety points to trafficking. There is three types of trafficking occur in Bangladesh: 1) he/she is sold by a family member, friend or neighbor; 2) he/she is tricked into going to another country with the promise of a job or a marriage proposal; or 3) he/she is kidnapped and forcefully taken away.
In Kushtia area, some villages are used as stations for the traffickers. Rajshahi borders of Bidirpur and Premtali are used because there are fewer check points. Jessore border is very popular with traffickers. Some hotels, hut and deserted-house godwons are used to keep the girls brought from different parts of the country. In that case, most women are made to believe that they will find good jobs and marriage prospects there.
Trafficking in girls and women is warmly linked to movements in search of employment opportunities. Poverty and gender discrimination make girls and women more vulnerable to traffickers and buyers. The traffickers are not accompanying the women while crossing the border. So it is difficult for the border police to arrest them. There are some female members in the trafficking gang, which helps to hide their identity. Initiatives to reduce poverty and promote gender equality are therefore of direct importance in efforts to combat trafficking.
