Aabha* is an 18year old rural Nepali girl who fell victim to trafficking as she fled from her home in search of freedom. She shared her story with our counsellors.

I come from a small and remote village in in mid-west Nepal. I have 4 sisters and 1 brother. 

Life has always been difficult in our family, but it became even harder when my father was paralysed because of an accident on a building site. Since then, we have struggled to survive.  My parents didn’t know what to do. Plans were made to marry all of us daughters off to some older men in the community to help lessen the burden on our parents.

This is a common custom in our community. 

I had my own dreams and I feared getting married.

I dreamed of having the opportunity to learn some skills that would allow me to provide for myself and my family. I dreamed of being able to choose my own life and my own husband. I dreamed of a love marriage. 

My parents were not swayed from their plans. I was to be married and they had my husband chosen for me. We fought so much over this, and home became unbearable. There was no way out. Some of my friends suggested that I follow them to India as they were going there to meet someone who had offered to get them good jobs. Desperate for an escape,

I chose to go to India.

I ran away from home, hopeful that this was the answer. On my way to India through the border I was met by a sister who was an ASSN/EDM counsellor. After speaking with her and after talking and making some enquiries we realised I and my friends were being trafficked. The person providing the ‘job’ was waiting on the other side of the border for all of us girls to arrive. I hadn’t known the person who had offered to get jobs for us was an agent who supplied dance girls for brothels and bars in India.

 I was so grateful for being intercepted but now found myself in a hopeless situation. Nowhere to go, no where live. I felt lost.

Poverty entraps. Situations like Aabhas are sadly not unique. Marriage in Nepal is a family matter and while arranged marriages are common custom, forced marriages are not.

In most cases the free consent and consultation is sort with all parties but sadly the pressure placed on families like Aabhas due to circumstance and limited or no social support sees many families fall into pattens of dysfunction where daughters already disadvantaged due to gender inequality, poverty and limited education are at risk of exploitation and abuse or married off against their will.

Because of the situation with her family, Aabha* chose not to return home but with the help of our ASSN/EDM staff and counsellors and with the co-operation of the police she was taken to a children’s/youth centre to stay where she will complete her education and receive vocational training. Aabha* will have the opportunity to choose her own life and live free. She will be equipped with the skill set she needs to make a living and supported to build her own future.

*Names and pictures changes for privacy reasons