Meet Anuradha Koirala, a crusader known for her anti-human trafficking drive through her non-profit making organisation Maiti Nepal and often labelled the ‘Terminator’ by human traffickers.
Maiti has saved more than 12,000 girls from sex slavery and prevented 45,000 children and women from being trafficked at the India-Nepali border.
For her untiring efforts, September 5 is designated anti-trafficking day in Nepal, reports the Star Online.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Star, Koirala, who was named CNN Hero 2010, said she does not see the award as an individual recognition, but recognition for the seriousness of human trafficking.
“For me, it means that globally, people have recognised the issue of trafficking. All these people consider it a heinous crime and want to fight it together,” she said during a press interview here.
She narrated a story where a young girl who was sexually exploited and contracted AIDS died in her arms a few years ago.
Workers at the crematorium, which normally charged 850 Nepali rupees, demanded 8,000 rupees for the funeral costs because they were scared of contracting AIDS from the dead girl. They eventually settled for 7,000 rupees.
“People talk about human and child rights but even after her death, people were bargaining over her body,” said Koirala.
She also tells of the struggles of young girls who are given hormone injections, raped up to 20 times a day, not given food, locked up and burned with irons.
Because of her brazenness, she often receives death threats, but is undaunted.
And there is a reason why traffickers call her ‘Terminator’ – a total of 688 offenders have been sentenced to jail so far through the joint effort of Maiti and the police.
>>Read the full story at IndiaTalkies.com
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