Kathmandu: In Kathmandu and other major cities, young girls—often between the ages of 8 and 18—are lured into the Adult Entertainment Sector under false pretenses. They are promised that their education and daily needs will be taken care of, only to later fall victim to sexual exploitation. Initially presented as a means of earning a livelihood, many of these girls—most of them minors—are instead forced into repeated sexual intercourse with customers. Some endure brutal abuse, leaving deep psychological and emotional scars that last a lifetime.
Recently, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City conducted research on 255 domestic child workers within the metropolitan area. The findings were shocking: one-third of the children were found to be in the “red zone,” meaning they were sexually exploited by their owners. The research also found that 135 children were in the “yellow zone,” indicating they experienced some form of sexual violence and were subjected to harsh labor by those providing them shelter, in disguise of work. Only 26 children were classified under the “green zone,” facing no such abuse.
The cycle of abuse doesn’t end once they leave these homes. Girls identified in the ‘red’ and ‘yellow zones’ often emerge from these environments traumatized and vulnerable, having come to accept sexual violence as a part of their life. With limited options and no safe return to their families—who in many cases depend on them for income—many end up working in Khaja Ghars, massage parlors, or beauty salons, where exploitation continues.
In Nepal, the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 has been enacted to address trafficking issues, including the exploitation of minors. However, there are significant flaws in the legal system in addressing this issue.
The cycle of abuse, according to Prabin Silwal, a member of the Child Rights Committee of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, continues because many of the girls are unaware that they are being exploited. “Even when they do realize it, they often choose not to come out of the situation, believing that this is the reality they must accept in order to meet their basic needs and support their families.”
Silwal explains how minors end up being sex workers in major cities’ local eateries, often called khaja ghar in Nepali, massage parlors, and beauty salons. “In many cases, minors who are brought to Kathmandu as domestic child workers end up there. Second is through enticement or frauds showing hopes of foreign migration,” he said.
Nepal’s legal framework does not recognize the consent of minors in matters related to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, or forced labor. The law considers any such consent invalid due to the inherent vulnerability and lack of legal capacity of minors. The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007 criminalizes all forms of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors for purposes such as prostitution, forced labor, and illegal organ trade. This act does not require proof of coercion or force; the mere act of trafficking a person is sufficient for prosecution.
The KMC has found that the majority of girls exploited in spas, Khaja Ghars, and massage parlors come from families facing foreign labor migration, domestic disputes, broken families, or financial hardship. “For instance, in districts of Sudurpaschim like Bajura, Bajhang, and Darchula, after the breadwinner migrates to Indian cities for work, parents often hand over their children to individuals who promise to place them in residential homes in Kathmandu—offering shelter, education, and even a salary,” said Silwal. “In districts of Karnali, financially struggling families send their children to Kathmandu, believing they will receive better education, earn an income, and live a good life,” he added.
Those who promise a better life for the children are often agents who specifically target vulnerable families as a source. Once these minors are brought to major cities under the pretext of providing them with work or education opportunities, the real exploitation begins..
This is how young girls are being trafficked from nearby districts to Kathmandu, the study shows.
The same girls placed in the red and yellow zones often reconnect with the same agents or driven by desperation to find work, come into contact with khaja ghars, spas, and beauty salons. Now seeking to earn more to support their families, many are also influenced by the luxurious lifestyles often portrayed by major social media sites, music videos and movies. Young girls often become victims as they are trapped by the traffickers with sweet words expressing love, or promises, or job opportunities; but behind which they are coerced once they become the prey of the operators of Khaja Ghar, Spa and guest Houses. “The combination of financial pressure and misguided aspiration pushes them further into exploitative environments,” said Silwal.
Once they start working in khaja ghars, beauty salons, or massage parlors, their situation becomes more vulnerable, and they are trapped.
Recently, a 14-year-old girl was rescued from a Khaja Ghar in Kathmandu. Upon her rescue, she was taken for counseling, and during the session, she shared a horrifying story: she had been repeatedly raped multiple times a day. Sometimes, she was even forced to have sexual intercourse during her periods, she was threatened and beaten severely if she opposed the owner’s decision. At the Khaja Ghar, she was asked to serve alcohol to the customers, forced to entertain them engage in sex work. Any denial from her was met by severe beatings, threats, and emotional abuse from the owners.
This year, the KMC has rescued 75 minors who have been sexually exploited, but only a total of 8 minors agreed to file cases against their perpetrators. Of the 8 cases, seven are related to rape.
According to a locally elected ward member of a municipality in Kathmandu, there has been lack of coordination with police even in such serious issues of exploitation of minors. “We present cases to the police, but police do not investigate independently unless the minor herself seeks legal action. It is the responsibility of Nepal Police to protect victims and book perpetrators. But it has been extremely difficult for the local government to closely work with Nepal Police to control the trafficking of minors,” said the local representative, who did not wish to be named as she was commenting on Nepal Police.
The Local Government Operation Act (2074) and Children Act (2075) mandate local governments to be responsible for protecting the rights of children and promoting child-friendly local governance. “However, there is no coordination from Nepal Police on this matter,” said the local representative, adding that most Khaja Ghars, beauty salons, and massage parlors are operated without registration from the local government. “While they fall under private property, the local government has no right to monitor private property. When we get a tip-off about illegal activities being run, Nepal Police have to act. But they are sluggish. And when police raid such properties, it is too late, as victims are already moved to another place or destination,” the local representative said. A necessity of community reporting channels, and prompt response from the Nepal Police would enable safety of the lives of minors who have been entrapped.
Silwal of the Child Rights Committee agrees with this. “The victims are already moved to another destination, and tracking them becomes impossible,” he said, adding that Khaja Ghars and parlor owners have now taken to social media platforms like TikTok to find clients. “Once they find clients, the minors are sent through ride-hailing services like Pathao and inDrive to their locations, where the victims are raped and exploited.”
An analysis of a few cases provided by the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau also shows that minors are forced to engage in sexual activities with up to 26 men daily and are often unpaid. In many cases, minors are lured into sexual exploitation with the promise of Rs. 500–1,000 per customer but are never actually paid. Thus, payment is also one of the means of entrapment used by the traffickers.
“They [minors] are told their earnings are recorded properly, while owners also charge them for what they eat, rent, and other expenses. At the end of the month, they are told their expenses exceed their earnings, leaving them trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation. Many victims express that their money is ‘stuck,’ and they cannot return home due to social stigma,” said Narbada Magar, an expert on human trafficking issues.
An analysis of a few cases provided by the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau also shows that minors are forced to engage in sexual activities with up to 26 men daily and are often unpaid.
According to Ganesh Kumar Basnet, an assistant professor of sociology, lately there has been a trend that students have to go abroad after clearing high school. “While those in Nepal feel left out and want to earn money like their friends working abroad. Spas and massage parlors target these teenagers as employees, particularly looking for girls aged 16-18. In these jobs, they often find customers because there is a shortage of human resources in the country.”
The reason they turn to these jobs, according to him, is because of the easier earning opportunities. The development of behavior follows the same pattern. “Families also say things like, ‘My son/daughter is earning on their own,’ so they don’t consider other sectors because the individuals lack skills.” While the family’s need for money is fulfilled, young girls have to silently go through trauma because of the huge social stigma but with the right support survivors can ultimately turn into leaders. Basnet shares, “The government should focus on child-friendly classes and warn vulnerable communities with targeted community programs. It is essential to educate young children and make them aware.”
Although the Nepal Police has been doing a tremendous job, according to rescuers, they lack resources. The government of Nepal has just one shelter home in Kathmandu, which can accommodate only 35 children. Likewise, there are a total of 80 shelter homes—operated through private funding and donor support—within the Kathmandu Valley. Shelter Homes are often safe spaces for children where they get the opportunity to transform themselves. Once the victims are rescued, the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau refers them to a shelter home where they receive counseling support and educational opportunities to further excel and be far from the sex trade.
According to Superintendent of Police Narendra Kunwar, spokesperson for the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau, police have been curbing such cases with regular operations, but most victims do not report them. “In many cases, victims do not want to come to the police. We have found that minors from financially deprived families are easily lured with hopes of a better lifestyle,” he said. The Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau has a dedicated hotline number of 1177 which can be used to report any cases of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Magar points out that the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau has inadequate resources; there are not enough female officers, no dedicated rooms for counseling. “There is no proper cell to house the victims and provide counseling; additional infrastructure must be developed within the bureau to help girls transform their lives,” she added.
In Nepal, the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 has been enacted to address trafficking issues, including the exploitation of minors. However, there are significant flaws in the legal system in addressing this issue. The current investigation period for trafficking cases is only 25 days, which is insufficient for such complex, organized crimes. Under this law, anyone involved in trafficking children or forcing them into prostitution is subject to 10 to 12 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 100,000.
The Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2056 clearly states that nobody shall engage a child who has not completed fourteen years of age as a laborer. However, children aged 14 and above may be employed in non-hazardous work, provided certain conditions are met. For children aged 14 and above to be legally employed in non-hazardous work, employers must obtain approval from the Labour and Employment Office of the respective districts. However, in the Labor Office of Kathmandu, not even one approval has been obtained, according to Silwal.
A study by the KMC has shown that the number of minors working as domestic helpers in residential homes is almost 10,000, while those employed in spas, khaja ghars, and massage parlors is estimated to be between 500 and 1,000. Since these operations generally operate secretly, speculations can be made that the actual number of minors in these trades can be a lot higher than a mere 1000.
According to Magar, such cases have only recently come to light, where minors are employed in khaja ghars, spas, and beauty parlors. “This trend has been going on in major cities for a long time. As we have seen minors being exploited, we need to break the demand side to curb this,” she said.
When asked how, Magar said authorities have been prosecuting employers during operations. “But when police nab the ‘customers’ who are engaged in sexual activities with minors, then people fear that these kinds of activities will lead to consequences,” she said, adding that this is the only step that will break the demand side.
Comment