“The clandestine nature of human trafficking continues to make it difficult to prevent and rescue potential victims.”
After years of abuse, violence and three miscarriages, her relationship with her husband ended. To be a middle-class Nepalese female, (back in the 80’s) earning a basic living as an English teacher and DIVORCED, life would have been at a significant low. But put in her words “my life’s purpose and responsibility completely changed”. Anuradha Koirala’s courageous journey at that point began…
Anuradha put a portion of her $100 monthly salary to start a small retail shop to employ and support displaced victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. By the early 90’s she realised that there is a lot more that needed to be done which compelled the creation of Maiti Nepal which was formed by Anuradha along with a group of professionals consisting of teachers, journalists and social workers.
Having started Maiti Nepal 20 years ago, in a small house in Kathmandu with her own savings, today Koirala is a widely recognized activist and lecturer who has dedicated her life to combating the trafficking and exploitation of women and children.
Through her organization, the former teacher and daughter of an Indian Army Officer has helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 12,000 Nepali girls and prevent 45,000 children and women from being trafficked at the Indian-Nepal border since 1993. Hundreds of offenders have been sentenced to jail through the joint efforts of Maiti Nepal and the police.
“Just imagine what would happen if your daughter was standing there. What would you do, how would you fight? So you have to join hands, you have to take each child as your daughter. Soon you will feel their sorrow and then you will feel the strength that comes out of you to protect them.”
#Satyam_Bruyat
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