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

pornography at Internet cafés or ‘blue movie’ 301 houses, or to identify and prosecute those
who may use Nepalese children in the production of child pornographic materials.
6.4.7 Addressing exploitation in travel and tourism
The growing problem of internal trafficking and related sexual exploitation of children in
travel and tourism has been insufficiently addressed through either awareness raising, civic
dialogue or direct intervention. Some NGOs and bilateral agencies have produced
information materials to address internal trafficking, but the impacts of these materials are
debatable. While local and international media have published articles/television segments on
sexual exploitation in travel and tourism and the growth of the local sex industry, the style
has been sensational. Significant violations of children’s rights have occurred in the
photography and videotaping of identifiable exploited children, both boys and girls. Several
NGOs (who for protection reasons ask to be unnamed) work directly in the dance bars, cabin
restaurants and local brothels in an endeavour to remove young children. However, these
NGOs are unrecognized and under-funded, and they work at considerable personal risk from
local criminals and police who have an investment in the local prostitution industry.
6.4.8 Responses to sexual abuse and exploitation
6.4.8.1 Children’s reporting of abuse
Reporting of child abuse and exploitation is one of the greatest challenges in addressing these
issues. Many abused children are alienated by the experience, and feeling shame or fear of
reprisal, they may think they have no place to go and no one to talk with for support. Child
Helpline, established by CWIN with the assistance of Child Helpline International, provides
children with emergency response in cases of sexual abuse and exploitation in the Kathmandu
Valley and the cities of Biratnagar and Pokhara.
The Crime Investigation Department of the Nepal Police has established more than 20 women
and children service centres in urban areas, as well as 6 along the border. These centres
provide teams of female police officers to receive and file complaints and support victims of
domestic violence, rape, trafficking and sexual exploitation. Para-legal committees in the
community identify and respond to cases, linking victims with support services provided by
NGOs and the government.
6.4.8.2 Safe shelter and crisis response
In Kathmandu, CWIN’s programmes for boys include emergency services, medical care, a
socialization centre, psychosocial counselling, a health clinic, night shelters, transit homes for
children at risk, a contact centre at the bus park for migrant children at risk, educational
support programmes and student hostels. Maiti Nepal has recently opened a living facility for
boys, although the boys rarely reveal that they have been sexually abused. Maiti Nepal also
provides legal consultants and has worked on around 300 cases requiring litigation
301 A term that refers to pornographic films.
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