As more girls and women worldwide seek opportunities outside the home, the incidence of sex trafficking and gender-based violence has been increasing, too. It is estimated that between 700,000 and 2 million women and children are trafficked each year. World Education is testing innovative strategies in prevention and intervention in Nepal.

"The trafficking of girls from Nepal into India for purpose prostitution is probably busiest slave traffic its kind anywhere in world." It estimated that as many 200,000 Nepalese are working Indian brothels today, while an additional 5,000 to 7,000 per year sold, kidnapped, or lured sex trade India. rural Nepal, two-thirds adolescent not enrolled school. These illiterate, out-of-school at greater risk than their in-school counterparts joining trade. Districts, which have highest rates female illiteracy, such Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk, with illiteracy 90 percent 92 respectively, also among worst districts girl trafficking. who escape sexual servitude liberated through police raids usually return array psychological health problems HIV/AIDS, STDS, tuberculosis, families communities often reject them.

These growing numbers of trafficked girls in Nepal experience higher rates of violence because of a lack of education. World Education designs education and literacy programs to address these issues.

In Nepal, World Education works to prevent trafficking of girls by providing them with foundation skills (reading, writing, math critical thinking and problem solving, for example) that leads to enrollment in formal schools at an age-appropriate level: an extraordinary and life-changing accomplishment for a low-status illiterate girl. Moreover, each component of the Girls' Access to Education (GATE) curriculum focuses on adolescent health and girls' empowerment. Girls learn about the dangers of trafficking, prostitution, and other forms of abuse. They learn the consequences of unsafe sex, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Girls learn to take care of themselves and each other. Parents have also reported learning from their daughters about the dangers of trafficking. One mother shared, "Now the people who sell girls in Bombay cannot trick us because our eyes have opened - now they cannot do as they did in the past."

The GATE program has a significant community education and outreach component that directly supports the objectives of the classes for girls. Parents, neighbors, and other community members may be unaware of girl-trafficking activities in their village, or they may inadvertently cooperate with traffickers. Either way, the GATE program raises awareness in the community of the importance of girls' education and of the destructive consequences of neglect and abuse as well as trafficking and prostitution. In addition, there are Class Management Committees made up of community members that volunteer their time. These committees work closely with local education authorities to help girls who complete GATE classes transition into formal school.

Since its inception in 1998, the GATE Program has provided opportunities for over 7,500 adolescent girls, aged 10-14, who had never entered or had dropped out of Nepal's formal school system. Over 30% of the first cohort of girls to complete the program enrolled for the first time in primary school. Of the 4,000 girls who completed the 2000 - 2001 GATE program cycle, 40% entered school. The program continues to expand, and in 2002 over 5,000 girls will participate in and graduate from GATE classes.

Source: worlded.org (edited)