Himalayan News Service

Hetauda, June 3:

A survey carried out in several VDCs of Makwanpur, Bara and Rautahat districts has revealed that over 35 per cent of the girls missing from rural areas end up working as prostitutes in brothels. According to an extensive survey carried out by Himalayan Human Rights Monitors (HIMRIGHTS) in 17 VDCs of Makwanpur, 19 VDCs of Bara and 25 VDCs of Rautahat, the missing girls either live a horrendous life in brothels or become item people in circuses while their parents and relatives are never informed of their situation. It also says that once the girls go missing, there is little chance of their being found.

Some 131 girls from Makwanpur, 90 from Bara and 25-43 from Rautahat are missing, the door-to-door survey to monitor human trafficking, personal problems and human rights abuse, has revealed. The survey says there are serious complications in cases of human trafficking, child marriage, rehabilitation and birth registration. It also said more and more people are shifting from rural to urban areas due to growing Maoist conflict.

The survey also reveals that 31 per cent parents in Makwanpur and 26 per cent in Rautahat do not want birth registration due to poor financial condition. Thirty 30 per cent parents in Bara are uninformed about the procedure while the percentages for the same in Makwanpur and Rautahat are five and three respectively, the survey report states.