SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A ...

programmes on child rights and child sexual abuse through child clubs in rural areas. The
Informal Sector Service Centre, a human rights organization focused on legal issues, conducts
awareness programmes on child rights and abuse throughout the country.
Children-Women in Social Services and Human Rights conducts a project in the Kathmandu
Valley called ‘combating silent suffering by children’, with the support of Save the Children
Norway. Focused primarily on boys and girls in domestic labour, the project carries out
public advocacy on sexual abuse issues for children, parents, teachers and employers. It
provides information on services for abused children and helps children and parents learn the
skills to identify and protect children. As well, the project trains teachers in formal and nonformal
education in ways to prevent sexual abuse in schools and homes. The group has also
stimulated public awareness of the issues through a column in local newspapers that responds
to children’s and parents’ questions and concerns on sexual abuse.
Several Nepal organizations, including ABC Nepal, Women Rehabilitation Centre, Saathi
and Shakti Samuha, conduct extensive awareness-raising and advocacy activities regarding
abuse and trafficking at the government, village and general public levels throughout the
country. However, their activities are focused on women and girls, and they generally do not
address the abuse and exploitation of boys.
6.4.5 Prevention through outreach to vulnerable boys
A number of organizations in the Kathmandu Valley seek to prevent or mitigate the abuse of
children living on the street and at-risk children through direct outreach, working at the street
level to raise awareness among children and equip them with preventive life skills and other
forms of support, including HIV/AIDS awareness, safe shelter, nutrition and drug
counselling. These NGOs include Sath Sath, CWIN, Voice of Children, Concern Nepal,
Child Watabaran Centre, Jagaran Forum Nepal, and Child Protection Centres and Services
Nepal. In Pokhara, the Child Welfare Scheme has coordinated the work of several local
NGOs in a comprehensive child protection activity that provides awareness and outreach to
children living on the street and in slums, with referral to drop-in, vocational training and safe
shelter services.
The sexual abuse of boys is also addressed through organizations working with HIV/AIDS.
Organizations such as the Blue Diamond Society, General Welfare Pratisthan and the
Community Action Centre include awareness and life skills training to resist sexual abuse
among other activities to reduce HIV/AIDS transmission among males having sex with
males.
6.4.6 Addressing exploitation in pornography
Although Nepal now has adequate laws to prosecute the distribution (if not production) of
pornography, there have been few initiatives to address the issue. CWIN has conducted some
public awareness activities regarding children’s exposure to pornography. But there have not
yet been any significant interventions by government or NGOs to reduce children’s access to
101