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As many as 200,000 Nepalese girls under 16 years have

fallen prey to prostitution in India. In 2008, 529 girls

were trafficked from the state of Assam alone.

When she is stolen, a girl will usually be kept for a

few months in Nepal, where she will be sexually abused

andrapedrepeatedlyinthenameof“breakingherin”.

Even when presented with a choice, after outliving her

“worth” as a virgin, she will generally be reluctant to

escape and go home to her family, who would likely

reject her due to cultural stigma. A price will be set for

her, like a commodity, and someone will take her over

the border to India. Nepalese and Indians can cross the

borderfreely,sothisisrelativelyeasy.

In India, a girl might fetch a price anywhere from

a little less than a water buffalo to a little more than a

video recorder. Once she is there, it is nearly impossible

to rescue the girl, as it is actually illegal to remove her

without a family member and specific documents –

andoftenbythistimeherfamilydoesn’twanther

As many as 200,000 Nepalese girls

under 16 years have fallen prey to

prostitution in India.

PHOTO FIROZ AHMED/DEMOTIX/CORBIS, JONAS GRATZER/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES