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The following narratives and photos tell the stories of a number of Nepali women the author worked with in Nepal a few years ago. Some of the women in this narrative, when they were 16 and 17 years old, were sold by their parents and then forced to work as prostitutes in brothels in Mumbai and Calcutta, India. They eventually became infected there with sexually transmitted diseasess (STDs) including HIV and AIDS. Once they they became STD infected they were physically forced out of the brothels which were their only homes. (Some women have daringly escaped before becoming STD infected.) Once they left the brothels their main survival became a real challenge. No one wanted them. The Nepali government rejected them at the border. Those who were able to sneak back into Nepal with the hope of returning home were often rejected by their families. Some of the women who made it back to Nepal found their way to Kathmandu where they tried living on the streets. Some returned in desparation to prosititution. Some were taken in by organzations like the Women's Foundation of Nepal who are able to provide these women with a place to live. All of the women I met and whose stories are contained in this blog are brilliant and courageous as you will see. All the photos in the blog (with the exception of one) are by the author and are under copywrite protection (copywrite 2002, 2006). Please ask me before using any of them for any purpose. Thanks.
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