Raising Awareness About Sex Trafficking in Nepal

Shabnaz Yousefia, MA student at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studes, recently completed a three-month internship with Raksha Nepal (RN), a Kathmandu-based organization that provides care and support for sexually exploited girls, women and their children. During her time with RN, Shabnaz taught English at the Raksha School for Women, led workshops for survivors of trafficking, organized support groups for victims of domestic violence, documented women's oral stories, provided support to children living at RN's shelter, and provided technical support with writing projects and grant proposals.

During her time in Nepal, Shabnaz also interviewed and documented the stories of some of Nepal's most marginalized women and girls, all of whom have experienced sexual exploitation, gender-based discrimination, and/or displacement as a result of the bloody ten-year conflict. She also conducted research on the role of community-based programs in stopping sex trafficking in Nepal.

A Nepal-based television program recently featured Shabnaz' efforts to raise awareness about trafficking and sexual exploitation of girls and women in Nepal.