Sustainable Gender Equality - a film about gender mainstreaming in practice

Международный проект «БЛАГО» - во благо жителей Усольского района.

http://usolie-raion.ru/index.php/events/2010-08-19-02-03-46/6614-mezhdunarodnyj-proekt-blago-vo-blago-zhitelej-usolskogo-rajona

мэр Усольского района Виталий Матюха, директор ИО ОО БР Союза женщин «Ангара» Светлана Уралова, тренер консультант «Формапер» Елена Систи (г.Милан Италия), президент ИО ОО БР Союза женщин «Ангара», председатель комиссии общественной палаты Иркутской области Альбина Широбокова, Главный Секретарь Итальянского Координационного Совета Европейского Женского Лобби (г.Рим, Италия) Франческа Людовика Боттарелли, председатель Думы Усольского района, член областного отделения Российского Союза сельских женщин Надежда Глызина

The many perils of Sex Trafficking in Kyrgyzstan Written by Saadia Haq

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the problem of human trafficking has become more profound in Kyrgyzstan. The Republic continues to be an increasingly attractive prospect for traffickers luring women into towards the position industry, locally and abroad.

Human trafficking is a serious crime just like terrorism, smuggling of weapons or narcotics. Many women and men can be forced to provide sexual services for someone else’s profit. The central Asian region, in particular Kyrgyzstan is a hot bed for sex trafficking. More then often, the traffickers use force or threats to keep trafficked women and girls under control and exploit them.

While poverty pushes some women and girls to voluntarily join the commercial sex trade, there are others who end up becoming commercial sex workers without their will. Either ways, they are held captive; some try but fail to escape.

Coming from a family of five siblings, drunk father and struggling mother, eighteen year old Olga* decided she would support her mother and saw an advertisement for a job in the capital city. “Young waitress needed. Good salary.” She called the number on the advertisement and went to meet her new employers. But when Olga* arrived at the address her employers gave her, she was locked in the apartment and kept there by force. She and four other girls were raped, sexually enslaved and exploited. If they refused to work, they were beaten. In average, 20 000 $ was monthly profit traffickers made by exploiting them.

Finally one fine day Olga* was able to escape with another girl and seek help from the local office of IOM.

Contrary to this, many Kyrgyzi women get trafficked out of the country for the purpose of sex exploitation. The “migrants in sex market” phenomenon exists with the prevalent dynamics of the demand and supply. Consequently, migrants women are more vulnerable and at high risk of exploitation.

Non-governmental groups research in central Asia shows alarming evidences of the numbers of Kyrgyzi women getting trafficked abroad illegally, many a times in places where they are vulnerable due to foreign language and culture.  These women are often controlled through established networks in Middle East and Europe where they are sold into the sex industry at cheaper prices admits appalling human conditions.

Aika* (a female central asian trafficker) was a recruiter of village girls who used to work in saunas. When they would arrive to these foreign locations, her team would lock them into apartments and force them to become prostitutes. None of the girls would have any choice in choosing customers and for refusing to work. Those who rebelled were quickly shown brutal physical force to give in. However, twenty-one year old Gulya* ran away with the help of a customer. Later she contacted an aid agency to report the crime. This led to Aika* arrest and sentence of prison.

Meanwhile Gulya* moved to another location in order to escape the community disproval and punishment for her former sex worker status. This is a common trend in the society; most Kyrgyzstani sex slaves who are juvenile girl, upon returning to Kyrgyzstan, are sometimes prosecuted for crossing borders illegally and shunned away by families.

The IOM says that it handles all expenses relevant to the release of Kyrgyzstanis from slavery abroad, ranging from transportation of former slaves to Kyrgyzstan and subsequent psychological rehabilitation and employment. Further more, its efficient programme continue to tackle the problems of sex trafficking. But ultimately, human groups argue, responsibility for tackling the problem lies primarily with the state. 

While the laws and programs are promulgated in the country, there implementation is debatable. The government of to Kyrgyzstan in its fight against trafficking must focus on efficient implementation of laws as well as strengthen effective cooperation with agencies rendering assistance to victim which have very important role to protect victims and to assist in victims’ recovery and reintegration in the society.

Sources:

1. IOM informational campaigns Series of leaflets on counter-trafficking
2. IOM Handbook on Direct Assistance for Victims of Trafficking 2007

Act Now for Women and Girls

http://vimeo.com/98657740

Запуск Кампании Beijing+20 (Пекин+20)

Организация Женщины ООН (UN Women) призывает граждан всего мира уделить значительное внимание гендерному равенству

Запуск Кампании Beijing+20 (Пекин+20): Расширение возможностей женщин расширяет возможности всего человечества: Помни об этом и действуй!

(22 мая, Нью-Йорк)— Организация Женщины ООН объявила сегодня о начале крупной кампании в ознаменование 20-й годовщины исторической Четвертой всемирной конференции по положению женщин в Пекине. Широкие действия, которые будут проводиться в мире в течение всего года, будут направлены на мобилизацию правительств и граждан на то, чтобы представить картину мира, где равенство мужчин и женщин будет реальностью, и на то, чтобы всем миром обсудить принцип, как расширение возможностей женщин расширит возможности всего человечества.

Проводимые мероприятия будут фокусироваться на достижениях и пробелах в гендерном равенстве, а также на расширении прав и возможностей женщин с того времени, когда 189 правительств приняли в 1995 году Пекинскую Декларацию и Платформу Действий. Этот дерзновенный план прокладывает путь к достижению полного и равноправного участия женщин во всех сферах жизни и принятия решений.

"Пекинская Платформа Действий - это невыполненное обещание, данное женщинам и девушкам, - говорит Фумзиле Мламбо-Нгкука, Исполнительный директор организации Женщины ООН. - Наша цель проста: возобновить принятые обязательства, активизировать действия

и увеличить ресурсы для реализации гендерного равенства, расширения возможностей и человеческих прав женщин и девушек." Пекинская конференция по положению женщин привлекла беспрецедентное участие - 17 000 непосредственных участников и 30 000 представителей, посетивших Форум неправительственных организаций. В 2015 году Организация Объединенных Наций проведет оценку прогресса, достигнутого в исполнении Пекинской Платформы Действий за прошедшие 20 лет, основываясь на отчетах правительств, которые в настоящее время подготавливаются странами-членами ООН.

Кампания откроется 24-часовым всемирным твиттерным марафоном. Среди групп-участников - организация Всемирная Христианская организация молодых женщин, Всемирная ассоциация девушек-гидов и скаутов, Фонд "Половина Неба" организация Европейское Женское Лобби, Европейский Женский Медиа-Центр, Девекс и другие региональные и национальные экспертные группы.

Организация Женщины ООН также торжественно откроет мировой информационный центр, представляющий широкое разнообразие мнений, свидетельств личного опыта и достижений, знаменитостей, достигших значительных успехов, и календарь мероприятий Пекин+20. Веб-платформа HeforShe осветит деятельность известных мужчин, выступающих за прекращение насилия против женщин и обеспечение равенства. Организация Женщины ООН будет поддерживать расширение движения через свою сеть офисов в странах и выпуск интерактивного прикладного средства Facebook app, "ClosetheGap" (Ликвидировать Гендерный Разрыв ).

"Эта годовщина приходится на исторический момент, - подчеркивает Исполнительный Директор Организации Женщины ООН, Г-жа Мламбо-Нгкука, - когда народы всего мира объединяются для ускорения прогресса в достижении Целей Развития Тысячелетия к 2015 году и определяют новую общемировую программу развития. Мы не должны упустить эту представляющуюся один раз за поколение возможность поставить вопросы гендерного равенства, прав и возможностей женщин в центр общемировой повестки дня и сделать их реальностью."

По всему миру планируются крупные мероприятия на эту тему. В предстоящем июне десятки тысяч участников соберутся в Швеции с

выступлением в защиту человеческих прав женщин и девушек. В сентябре на Встрече на высшем уровне по вопросам изменения климата в Нью-Йорке будет проведена специальная встреча женщин-глав государств и лидеров женского движения. В ноябре в Индии мужчины и юноши выступят в защиту гендерного равенства.

Официальное празднование 20-й годовщины будет проведено во время 59-й сессии Комиссии по статусу женщин в марте 2015 года, а Международный женский день 2015 года будет посвящен тематике Пекин+20. В сентябре 2015 года предполагается проведение международной встречи на высоком уровне с принятием конкретных обязательств.

За прошедшие два десятилетия достигнут значительный прогресс в обеспечении законных прав женщин, в их образовании и участии в общественной жизни. Но многое еще предстоит сделать для устранения неравенства в заработной плате и неравных возможностей мужчин и женщин, низкого представительства женщин на лидирующих постах в правительственных органах и частном секторе, запрещения детских браков, широкого распространения насилия и других нарушений в отношении женщин и девушек.

"Сегодня я призываю вас всех принять участие в осуществлении этих решений, - заявила г-жа Мламбо-Нгкука. - Помни об этом и действуй! Все вместе мы сможем выполнить обещание, данное в Пекине: достижение равенства между женщинами и мужчинами."

Телемост на тему «Женское лидерство в общественном секторе Центральной Азии».

19 декабря между офисами Всемирного банка в городах Алматы (Казахстан), Бишкек (Кыргызстан) и Душанбе (Таджикистан) прошла телеконференция на тему «Женское лидерство в общественном секторе Центральной Азии». Ее организовал Региональный офис Всемирного банка в ЦА в партнерстве с «Ассоциацией развития гражданского общества «АРГО» (Казахстан), МОО «Фидокор» (Таджикистан), «Ассоциацией Центров Поддержки Гражданского Общества» АЦПГО (Кыргызстан) и ОО «Поддержка инициатив» (Казахстан).

Представители женских организаций трех стран собрались, чтобы обсудить роль активных женщин в гражданском обществе в странахЦентральной Азии, а также перспективы для развития регионального сотрудничества в женской тематике и возможности для поддержки женских инициатив и сетевого взаимодействия в процессе регионального сотрудничества.

Участниц интересовал обмен успешным опытом в координации и консолидации усилий женских организаций, продвижения женского лидерства. В этой области большим опытом обладают организации из Кыргызстана, например, Женская образовательная коалиция добились того, что 13 женщин вошли в состав местных властей в различных районах. В партнерстве с казахстанскими коллегами ими в Интернете создана сеть тренеров для сотрудничества, обмена опытом, взаимного обучения.

На встрече присутствовали представительницы Центральноазиатской сети женщин с инвалидностью. По их словам, сеть действует давно и успешно, решает проблемы, вырастила поколение лидеров, но только в рамках темы инвалидности. Необходимо расширять список тематик, в которых она будет принимать участие, в том числе включить туда женскую тематику.

Одной из точек соприкосновения участницы назвали ранние браки и здоровье женщин. Бахыт Туменова, президент ОФ «Аман-саулык» (Казахстан) говорит: «Мы подготовили 2 больших доклада о репродуктивном здоровье женщин и решении таких вопросов, как ранние браки, домашнее насилие, трудовая миграция. Бывает, мигранты не возвращаются, бросают своих жен, на которых женились, когда те даже не закончили школу. Мы можем объединить усилия: защита жен мигрантов, сохранение семьи».

Баян Егизбаева, директор МОО "Центр по проблемам молодежи", поделилась опытом Кызылординского региона: «Можно решать проблемы шире. Опыт нашего региона - этой весной мы создали Общественную палату, в которую вовлекли местные общественные организации, государственные органы и международные организации. Мы проводим исследования, экспертизу, добиваемся выплат компенсаций населению. Также делаем оценку того, как компании тратят социальные средства и каковы последствия их деятельности. В палату входят 27 разных организаций, и когда мы все вместе, мы можем добиться улучшения условий жизни в своих регионах».

В целом, участницы говорили о необходимости обмена опытом в сфере лидерства и участия женщин в принятии решений, повышения качества образования, а также необходимости региональных долгосрочных проектов, направленных на региональное сотрудничество. Результаты дискуссии будут учтены при формировании повестки дня Международной конференции «Региональное развитие: взгляд изнутри» в июне 2014 года.

Новости ассоциации "Шырак"

Сеть организаций женщин с инвалидностью Казахстана в лице Ассоциации "Шырак" провела ряд встреч с Мин.труда и соц.защиты населения РК, Омбудсменом РК, депутатом Сената, Нац.Комиссией, партиями, во время которых обсудили Концепцию совместной программы действий по лидерству и подготовке женщин с инвалидностью для продвижения на уровень принятия решений в Казахстане.

http://www.ombudsman.kz/news/detail.php?ID=2209

http://shyrak.kz/home_2_145/ 

Human Trafficking Victims Suffering Societal Taboos in Azerbaijan

Written by Saadia Haq

When Anja Mammadova, who is now a prostitute working the bars of Baku, was 15, she thought she had a chance of escaping a childhood of poverty in southern Azerbaijan for a better life. Mammadova was working as a manual laborer in the fields with her other three sisters and two brothers. The parents were clearly stretched to put food on table barely enough for all.

She recalls that for first fifteen years of her life, she never wore anything bought first-hand, they were lucky to get torn second hand dresses. Her luck it seemed was about to change, because of a chance meeting with a foreigner tourist, an Iranian man called Ahmad. Soon, Ahmad’s visits to her home became a norm and he asked for her hand in marriage, her parents struggling to support her and her three sisters and two brothers, were happy to agree to the match.

Their couple got married through the Muslim wedding rite and no one really bothered to register the marriage with the country’s civil authorities. After spending a week’s honeymoon in Lenkoran, Ahmad along-with Anja flew to United Arab Emirates. Her content parents came to the airport to bid them goodbye.  After arriving to Dubai, Ahmad took her to a strange and doubtful place, which later she found out, was a criminal hang-out.

Mammadova says, “I never saw my husband again, for worse I realized that he had already taken away my passport and other identification documents.” In a few hours, her world collapsed. It finally sank in that she was about to start working as a prostitute.

Trapped into the stinking brothel, Anja was chained and kept hungry for days. More over, she was injected some liquids through syringes that she recalls were some drugs that disoriented her senses. She says, “It was hell on earth, there were several other girls even younger then me. Day and night we were humiliated by our owners and clients. If we even tried to smile at each other, we were punished for that.”

During her almost 2-years’ ordeal, she desperately tried to reason and seek mercy from her clients to help her, but all such attempts were useless.

Anja Mammadova was freed when the Dubai police cracked down the brothel.

She was sent home on the first available flight. But, the story of her sufferings did not end there.

In the staunch Islamic Republic of Azerbaijan, trafficked women’s repatriation in a huge taboo. Azeri activists working on the issue say the situation is extremely challenging, because many trafficked women never manage to return home. And those who return have to face a lot of societal discrimination.

Azeri researchers say that mostly victims reply to newspaper adverts for unskilled jobs abroad as nannies, cleaners or waitresses, and find themselves forced to work as prostitutes when they arrive at their destination.

The country’s interior ministry’s human trafficking department says that most of the women trafficked from Azerbaijan end up in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan. The ministry’s figures show that 95 per cent of those involved in people trafficking are female who work as agents, hiring consultants etc. But foreigners posing as tourists and keeping women for marriage are other methods.”

Anja Mammadova’s marriage taught her a life-long lesson. The Women’s Crisis Center in Azerbaijan says that many women like Mammadova seek their help because they have no place to go.

The Center’s director says, “It is really appalling that many of the returning women are rejected by their families. One woman who was forced into sex slavery and got home by a miracle was stabbed by her own husband.” Then another sad story of a trafficked young woman whose family attempted to kill her”, she said. “It’s a big problem when women who have already lost their way are denied help from their own relatives.”

Sometimes, the ostracized victims of trafficking end up in the domestic sex industry as they have no other way of surviving.According to the Center, a large number of returning women continue to work as prostitutes in the city bars, earning 50 dollars or more from clients.

This is exactly what happened to Mammadova after she was deported by the Dubai authorities following the raid on the brothel.

She had a bitter homecoming. She was constantly summoned by the police, who asked her humiliating questions, and her family refused to take her back.

“I think my father would rather I’d died. When he heard what I had been forced to do he hit me and threw me out of the house,” she said. “My mother gave me 200 dollars, which was all her savings. You can’t live in Baku on that kind of money, so I had to get work somewhere.”

Within a few days, Mammadova was standing at the capital Baku’s center, outside a bar in search of clients.

“We prostitutes have to pay a percentage to the bar management, as well as from time to time pay off to the police.  But things are looking up as now I am bit established with regular clients. In the initial months, there were some really nasty ones who didn’t want to pay. Others beat me up. You know – we get all sorts in this work.”

* The victim’s name has been changed to maintain confidentiality.

References:

1. Azerbaijan Ministry of Interior
2. Women Crisis Center, Baku

China Pledges to Seriously Punish Newborn Traffickers

http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/155234-1.htm

Global EntrEprEnEurship monitor 2012 Women’s Report

http://www.babson.edu/Academics/centers/blank-center/global-research/gem/Documents/GEM%202012%20Womens%20Report.pdf

Tcheng Yu-hsiu: China's First Female Judge

Добавьте подпись

http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/155163-1.htm?pos=0

A trailblazer in adopting climate smart practices: one agriculture cooperative’s success story in Nepal

?blogID=1707162397965199094#editor/target=post;postID=8652311527002545410

Can family farming make poverty history? By Katie Pisa, for CNN July 5, 2013 -- Updated 1549 GMT (2349 HKT)

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?

blogID=1707162397965199094#editor/target=post;postID=1522364201191792059

Can 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' Really Work?

http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/153786-1.htm

Human Good| Human Trafficking Road Map

Human Good| Human Trafficking Road Map

Written by Saadia Haq

“Initially everything was fine. I was told that I will work as a child-minder with rich families’ children. But I got tricked, my passport, money snatched away, next thing I knew I was sold to a pimp. He told that I had to work for three months before moving to a new place. I had to choice but to comply, like the other girls. Most of us had agreed to jobs in the sex industry, because there was no other solution. It’s been eleven-gruesome years that I am stuck here,” says Ronja.*
Her voice echoes a diminutive fraction as to what countless trafficked women are forced to cope up with. We are aware about the growing phenomenon “feminization of trafficking.” It continues to destroy lives of hundreds of women. Logically, a query comes to mind as how Ronja* ended up from a little Persian town to turbulent provincial capital of Pakistan; Peshawar.
The answer is not so simple. But there is substantial evidence to support the claim that cross-border illegal activities between Pakistan and its neighboring countries have a lot to do with human smuggling and trafficking issue.
Ronja* and many others were unfortunate to have fallen into the hands of traffickers that were aided by border-police to be smuggled into Pakistan from across the borders. Many a times, these women also carry drugs for the human traffickers.
The Soviets Invasion of Afghanistan forced Pakistan to bear long-term consequences till today. Since 1980s, some 6 million Afghan refugees took refugee in Pakistan to escape the war. The prolonged war entered Pakistan’s North West that always remains a contentious bone.
Recent UNHCR estimates that 3 million Afghan refugees still continue to stay in Pakistan, making them the largest refugee community in the world. The conflict has also served as a gate-way for human trafficking organizations in their ambitions, lucratively. Human trafficking from Afghanistan to Pakistan continues — women, children and in many cases militants or would-be Islamists.
According to the HRCP’s report on Implementation of the HRTO 2002, the porous borders in Afghanistan allows frequent trafficking to occur between it and Pakistan. This report has been compiled by Ms. Sofia Akram, a humanitarian-based communicator-researcher. Ms. Akram has a notable solid background on issues around human rights, international development and human trafficking. Further, her report highlights the grave issue of the selling of women and girls from refugee camps that ends up in problems of sexual slavery and forced labor.
The report adds that less attention has been placed on the trafficking that comes into Pakistan from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Burma. Economic and political refugees that find themselves in Bangladesh and using the same coercive methods can find themselves trafficked to Pakistan. West Pakistan retains a large Bengali in habitation in particular and they can be easily absorbed in this area.  They arrive in Karachi via Calcutta or Delhi (both Indian cities) by land. Countless Nepalese are bought and then sold in India. Additionally, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepalese, and Burmese women end up trafficked through Pakistan en route to the Gulf or Greece.
In recent times, a new pattern has started getting media attention within the country.  The asylum seeking Afghans, Iranians, and former Soviet-Union countries use Pakistan as route to reach Malaysia. A huge international racket is working on transporting these foreigners illegally from the sea port of Karachi, in Pakistan and eventually they arrive to Malaysia.
A police source in Karachi nods in confirmation that paying $10,000 to Pakistani human smugglers helps these foreigners to make it to Malaysia.
In Pakistan, human-rights organizations as well as rights activists are continuing to raise their voice on the issue. Significant efforts have been made by NGOs and Pakistan Thematic Group on Human Trafficking (PTGHT) in terms of data collection-research and awareness raising on the gravity of the situation.
Overview of PTGHT report
The last year’s estimates reveal that women are trafficked into Pakistan from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Burma, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal and Central Asian states for forced sexual exploitation. Additionally, Pakistan is hosting also illegal immigrants from Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia, Philippines, Burundi, Indonesia, and Mozambique.
The report indicates patterns of “transit-passage country” for the trafficked women and under-age children from East Asian countries and Bangladesh through Pakistan.
To curb international human trafficking, Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) has steeped up various measures. On a sporadic basis, the agency offers statistics of grave concern. The estimate says that during the last 3 years, human trafficking has increased manifold between Pakistan, Iran and Middle Eastern countries.
Once startling case of organized women trafficking that came to light in 2011, where Pakistani and Indian girls aged 11 and 13 were smuggled to the Middle East countries for forced sexual labor. The girls were shown to be aged between 20 and 22 on their passports, were brought to these rich-countries on the pretext of getting them lucrative jobs.
The case came to light after a Pakistani human rights activist Ansar Burney rescued a group of minor girls from the Middle East; he came across horrifying facts regarding the flesh trade going on in the region.
The usage for passage from Iran for onward journey to Europe is also very common. This is common for other nationalities as well as Pakistanis who are fleeing the country with help of agents, travel assistants.
There is no easy-fix to this complex problem, while Pakistan needs to continue putting stricter measures to curb the prevailing menace, it will not get anywhere – all alone. Most of South Asian countries rank along with India as Tier I Watch List countries, Pakistan is ranked as Tier II — one level better than India.
A telling indicator that South-Asian governments must join forces to demonstrate political will for implementation of regional collaborative measures to tackle this inhumane trade.
*Names have been changed.
References:

1. UNHCR Pakistan
2. HRCP report on Implementation of the Human Rights Trafficking Ordinance 2002
3. Pakistan Thematic Group on Human Trafficking (PTGHT)
4. Federal Investigative Agency (FIA)

From Farm to Table via the Internet

http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/153614-1.htm

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http://youtu.be/ntzpjj2LXD4

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http://www.womenofchina.cn/html/womenofchina/report/153568-1.htm

Trafficked to Pakistan

Written by Saadia Haq

With Ramadan the holy month of fasting, the city of Islamabad’s almost deserted. The mosques are full of devotes and the general populace are going about their tasks with a weary, hangdog, hungry air. At the Restaurant Khayam* in a market on the southwestern fringe of this planned capital of Pakistan, the sign says “Closed for Ramadan”. But if one investigates further, a certain business is booming.

Nina, Shireen and Katerina (pseudonyms used) seem not really affected by what’s going on. Despite skirmishes with the local authorities, police arrests of their colleagues they are staying put. This is their bread and butter for nearly a decade. And they are sure that sex-work has a rosy future in this stronghold of Islamic orthodoxy.

Nina says she’s a Turk from Ankara and a Muslim, while the other two fair-skinned pronounced they are hail from Azerbaijan. It soon emerges that all have Russians origins but are tight-lipped to divulge further. One can draw conclusions that the minder and madam in this small establishment is Katerina.

According to Katerina, there are over five-thousand sex-workers – women- from Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, and other parts of central Asia. These women end up in Pakistan due to the trafficking networks that are operating within and out of the country.

A large number is saturated in the initial establishments in Islamabad that caters to all sorts of elite classes. For instance, Katerina says she’s a household name for the businessmen, diplomats and local authorities. It does come as no surprise when she asserts that the lowly status of women in Asian societies as well as booming sex-tourism has greatly contributed to the phenomenon.

Despite tall-claims of purity vis-à-vis, the Islamic State of Pakistan is listed as “a source, transit, and destination country” for trafficked persons, according to the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report for 2012.

Katerina and other members of her network first came into the local public’s attention few years ago, when police raided several plush guesthouses, and hotels. The sporadic arrests of involved women and men could help establish the facts and situation better. She muses that “it’s hypocritical of the local media to highlight stories of trafficking and show reports covering the alleged dens and hide-outs.” She says it makes their lives harder, but they have other ways to counter such crack-downs. The topic of “women/girls sale” also came up, where I was told that prices depend up the conditions in which the women/girls are, if its better, she can be sold at a higher price.

Usually trafficked women are sold for $1,000 to $2,000 depending on age, beauty, race and their virginity. The youngest Nina* story is proof of this abomination. She was in the possession of a factory owner in Jalalabad (Afghanistan) for several years, and after getting bored with her, he re-sold her across the border.

Many young sex-workers like Nina or some underage ones also give birth to children who are also sold in the markets. Katerina thinks that this is more common amongst those trafficked from neighboring India like the Bangladeshi origin women. Upon hearing the word, Bangladesh, India, almost all women draw their lips as if mildly irritated.

I soon find out the reason is obviously economic. The presence of South Asian sex-workers in Islamabad is perceived to be a mild-threat because they charge less money from clients. This creates problems for Katerina because of client rate haggling for her girls.

Obviously the conversation steers back to them, Katerina and her girls were doing very nicely in Islamabad until the arrests and expulsions. Now that fuss has died down, they are doing very nicely again. While we were in conversation, the sun had set. As countless people followed the iftar sirens and azan (call to prayers) to break the fasts, it was time for Katerina to reopen her shop for the day—- in their case evening.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me.

Shireen who until now was silent, walks up to stand near the window. She says that she enjoys the mystical, peaceful silence that follows during the month of fasting. Maybe later on, she and her colleagues provide relief to many weary men that fasted during the day.

Across town at the Diplomat Inn (next door to a United Nations agency), the price demanded for a half a night in the arms of a “Turkish 19-year-old” – actually another Russian – is Rs8,000 (Euro 62).

These women are doing well because the classical Central Asian look – fair skin, strong nose, glossy black hair – corresponds to the Pakistani ideal of female beauty. Katerina is adamant that she and her colleagues are quite over the feeling of being trapped into this profession. It would not be wrong to say that they have a very blasé attitude towards being a foreign sex-worker in Pakistan. For them, it’s the best thing that could happen for they are in an advantageous position. If they want, they can even open their wings to Middle Eastern shores, where central Asian beauties are in high demand.

Does she miss home? Katerina says, “Despite the fact that we send money once in a while, because we are lucky to have maintained contacts, there’s hardly any concern for our whereabouts, it all boils down to money.”

Indeed, poverty is the root cause behind such blasé attitudes towards serious concerns like danger to life, health and so on. This alone forces women like these to accept such ways of life.

As opposed to the other parts of the globe, where organized gangs of traffickers trap women into sexual slavery, the foreign sex-workers working in Pakistan are here on their own, drawn by the financial rewards their exotic origins offer them. With this, we came to an end, as now the girls had to finish preparation for their night jobs.

Walking down the stair-case, I kept thinking about the PACHTO Law and it’s uselessness to prevent the organized crime of trafficking persons within the country.

Pakistan made progress in law enforcement efforts to combat human trafficking in 2009 with the prohibition of all forms of transnational trafficking in persons with the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance (PACHTO).

However, Government officials and civil society report that judges have difficulty applying the law, because of confusion over existing definitions and similar offenses in the Pakistan Penal Code.

Overall the lack of adequate governmental protection for trafficking victims continues, and implementation of laws is another weaker factor to be noted.

*Names have been changed

References:

• US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report for 2012

Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance, Pakistan