Sex slavery sounds like something out of the Middle Ages. When women were examined, bargained and sold like meat. While you won’t see that happen so flagrantly today; it’s nonetheless rampant.
‘Prostitution’; or to make it more acceptable and vapid it’s referred to as ‘commercial sex work’, is a thriving industry. While I’m sure some women enter the sex trade willingly, I’ll bet my bottom rupee that majority of them are coerced into it.
Let’s look at the minority who, of their own initiative, enter the trade. How many of these women would be selling their bodies to make money because they can’t find other means of making an income and how many of them do you think enjoy being a ‘commodity’?
Women’s issues is something I feel strongly about and have tried to create awareness and help out in whatever way I can. I’ve written articles about the flaws in our Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and gender based violence– and so recently I was approached by a family friend who asked me if I could help her friend. The friend, who lives in a rural part of the country was being pimped by her husband (a hopeless-case who refuses to go to work). His wife obediently beds clients he finds her. She says it’s the only way she can earn money to provide for their child.
I tried calling up a few NGOs for women in order to find out if they have programmes which help women find work. I tried numbers on websites- some didn’t work and on calling one organisation I was actually hung up on. I gave up on the NGOs and decided to look through for jobs for women that didn’t require O/L qualifications. I managed to find some online; as well as some vocational training courses.
It turned out that the girl in fact wanted to find some other means of earning and was delighted that there was an alternative. Sorting that out is still in progress but the whole episode got me thinking. What do rural women who don’t have access to all this information- alternative work and vocational training courses, do? And don’t let me get started on hopeless NGOs!
There are organisations that help women- training them in sewing and giving them loans to start their own business. But I doubt there are enough of such organisations and how do women who live in rural areas find out about these organisations? If you’ve got any suggestions feel free to post them here, I’d really appreciate some input.
Good post. Its so disturbing and depressing to see women go thru this. And it happens everywhere. For something like this you simply blame the demand. For if there is a demand there will always be a supply.
Also like the new look of the blog!
Thanks!
Well, I suppose an awareness campaign targeted at men would be more appropriate.
There already is one at the moment. Its by Aston Kutcher and Demi Moore.
Check: http://demiandashton.org/realmen
Is it still on? ‘Cause Ashton and Demi split up, right?
And CARE was doing something similar but it was about domestic violence
Agreed, having an office in Colombo hardly seems appropriate for a centre or organisation to help women, considering the majority of women-related domestic issues, violence etc are all found in the rural areas. Still, I’m not too eager to give up on the NGO’s as yet; while they may seem hopelessly disorganised and uncoordinated at times, this speaks more to their lack of funding rather than lack of drive.
No. Some of them have all the funds and more but they really lack the passion for the cause.
It speaks a lot about their ‘lack of drive’ too – and that’s a polite way of putting it. They have enough drive to have major events in major hotels to which the media are cordially invited and wined and dined so that they can go back and give a lot of publicity to what a lot of good work these good souls are doing.
But approach them as an individual either in need of help or to volunteer to help in any way other than cash and you see their true faces.
I don’t have anything relevant to say about GBV Megs but as a journalist, I think you should approach the NGO that hung up on you and take them to task. Identify yourself as from a paper, ask them what they have to say and then publish it!
Ah, the old- ‘don’t mess with the press’
It’s not about ‘messing with the press’ as they didn’t realise they had hung up on a member of the press. Had they realized who you were, they’d have fawned all over you which is what I find infuriating. That they present a wonderful caring face to the ones who give the funds and the ones who give the publicity to enhance their profiles and solicit those funds but then turn into Hydes when they turn around and face the would-be beneficiaries who the funds were meant for.
It would serve them right to have their behaviour highlighted in the media!
Well that’s something we can work on together!
Did you try WIN? they’re one of the more proactive organisations. There are actually plenty of grassroots organisations that are very passionate about what they do, but outreach, funding and manpower are always issues. Also perhaps the actnow website for info? http://www.actnowsrilanka.org/en/vaw/trafficking#laws
There is a need for much more action-based awareness and information, so maybe that’s where journalists can help by writing more about the issues and how to seek help.
WIN was the first organisation I called. They said their services only extended to counselling and sheltering victims- not finding them work. They were quite nice though and found other organisation I could call up but again the numbers didn’t work.
The problem is there are so many organisations dedicated to creating awareness but so few that can actively help people.
prostitution in itself is not a bad thing imo. if a woman wants to use her body instead of her mind to make money, who are we to judge. the problem is that most who are engaged in it are forced into it, and hardly ever see the fruits of their labours, so to speak.
there was an organisation i have heard of, berendina, i think they were called. they had a job bank where you can register on and they try and match your skills with available jobs. only issue was, they were only operating in one are. will try and locate some details and let you know.
I find it dubious that women would want to be sex workers… But yes! Please do send details over if you can
Many thanks!
that’s the trick though isn’t it? you find it dubious, but someone many not think it’s a bad thing. and there are several countries in the world where it is legal, where women who want to work as commercial sex workers can do so and still enjoy the same rights as any other person employed in a trade. we have a long way to get there and i doubt we ever will, but it would be a good place, where women can do what they want to without being stigmatised or exploited.
Like in Amsterdam? According to this documentary by Al Jazeera things aren’t what they seem… http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/slaverya21stcenturyevil/2011/10/20111010134454998749.html
Actually, like New Zealand. At work so can’t look up links to post here.
My point was, prostitution is and has been illegal for many years, in many places. What that does is, it prevents the victims from approaching the authorities for redress. If you hand over the power to the women, to control their circumstances, their work hours, their remuneration etc etc., then the power is with them, not with some man who keeps her locked up in a room, finds men who can rape her and then takes all her money, which is what sex slavery is.
Good article meg. yeah i don’t think there are much organization to help those.
If only the government would realise how important it is to see to the welfare of people too. Sure we have a whole ministry for it but what have they done…
well practically u know how hard to even contact such “Ministries” even to get some information , so what to talk about their actions . as individuals we might able to help few but when it comes to majority there are limitation due to this failure of government so make such acts.
And that’s why we should pressure the government into doing something about it.