National Workshop on Dissemination of Regional Issues from the Entertainment Sectors

Raksha Nepal has been continuously fighting against all forms of sexual violence against women, girl and children since its establishment in 2004. It is a well-known fact that Raksha Nepal has been uplifting the standard of women and girls through enhancing their knowledge and uplifting their socio-economic status through economic empowerment.

On 27 June 2016, Raksha Nepal organized a national workshop on dissemination of regional issues from the entertainment sectors at CW restaurant Kamaladi, Kathmandu. Raksha Nepal has empowered women and girls working in entertainment sectors such as: massage parlor, dance bar and cabin restaurant through union. The union has members who work in the entertainment sectors across different regions of Nepal. So, the national workshop was organized to disseminate regional issues from the entertainment sectors. In the workshop women from different development regions had also come to share their problems and experiences.

Altogether 50 participants were present on the occasion representing different government and non-government sectors. Superintendent of Nepal police, representative of national human rights commission, representative of central children welfare board, representative from the women and children development office Kathmandu, representatives from different NGOs had attended the workshop. In the workshop at first, four women who are currently working in the entertainment sectors shared their experiences about how Raksha Nepal has helped them to bring positive changes in their lives. Similarly, three women from other parts of Kathmandu shared their experiences and problems regarding their work places.

The women participants from different regions shared that they had unknowingly been landed into forced prostitution. They said that they were born in villages, and when they come to the town in search of job opportunities, due to the lack of skills and ignorance, the owners of their workplaces compelled them to engage in forced prostitution. They described that the situation of their workplaces is quite sad. However, they want to change their lives through alternative livelihood skills.

The government officials and the superintendent of police said that they are ready to preserve the dignity and rights of women working in every sector. They further said that they are ready to help the women and punish the perpetrators of any types of violence against women if they get information from the workers women. The officials from different government bodies said that forced prostitution and internal trafficking are serious forms of crimes and the perpetrators will be punished according to the law of Nepal.

In the workshop, chairperson of Raksha Nepal presented different women empowerment activities of Raksha Nepal throughout the year. Finally the chairperson of Raksha Nepal concluded that Raksha Nepal according to the vision, mission and goals of the organization is always ready to ensure the rights of women and girls working in the entertainment sectors and to end forced prostitution and internal trafficking from Nepal.