Lust for minors growing in India, UNODC

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Lust for minors growing in India, says survey

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times

Unlike rest of the world, the lust of men in South Asia, especially

India, is growing for younger women, said , South Asia head

of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Wednesday.

This is resulting in trafficking syndicates targeting younger women

in Nepal, Bangladesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, trafficking hot

spots in south Asia.

said that a recent study of trafficked women in Nepal to India

had revealed that there is an increased demand for younger women. In

1980s, women between 14-16 were preferred, then the age in 1990s went

down to 10-14 and now it is even less than 10 years. " I have come

across cases where even five year-old girls have been trafficked for

sexual exploitation, " told HT but added that such cases are not

very rampant.

Desire for younger women is not the prime reason. The growing fear of

catching sexually transmitted diseases from older women and belief

that having sex with younger women is a cure for many diseases had

caused this increase in demand. " Many believe having sex with young

virgin girls would cure them of diseases. For others, chances of

catching STD from younger girls is less, " said.

What most of these girls get in return at a tender age is the dreaded

HIV/AIDS. Study of trafficked women in Nepal showed that 60 per cent

of positive HIV cases were of girls below the age of 15. And, all of

them had got the disease from their male clients going for

unprotected sex because the kids are not in a position to protest. It

showed, said, lower the age higher the risk to get HIV/AIDS.

For these HIV positive girls, life has been cut short. Maru, one such

victim of sexual exploitation after being trafficked, died recently

in a rehabilitation home in Hyderabad. She got the disease from the

person who had sexually exploited her. UNODC showed a clip of the

girl celebrating her birthday in December 2006 with other victims of

trafficking for sexual exploitation, all in the age group of 8-10

years. " Such had been trauma that couple of girls have lost their

speaking power, " recalled, claiming that there are thousands of

such girls all over India.

said trafficking in south Asia is a most organized crime and

third most profit earner after weapon smuggling and drugs. " It is

worth billion of dollars, " he said. To have an organized effort

against trafficking, UNODC will launch a unique programme next week

called UN Gift. " Corporate, civil society and government will join

hand to check growing trafficking in south Asia, " he said.

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