Von Martin Boess
The living conditions for women working in the sex trade (Commercial Sex Workers, CSW) in Nepal are very bad. For years, different NGO’s have been trying to improve the living conditions of CSW’s, but most of them offer programs intended to get the CSWs out of the sex trade. Unfortunately, the success of these programs is very limited, because most of the women are in the sex trade for economic reasons, to make a living for the women themselves, their children and their families. In order to get the women out of the sex trade there has to be sufficient income for the CSWs through other activities. Otherwise it is not possible to get them out of the sex trade. In regard of the existing economic situation in Nepal, there is no realistic activity that will earn the equivalent amount of money as the sex trade. Therefore we assumed that it cannot be the foremost idea of the project to get the women out of the sex trade. The actual situation is driving even more women into it. To successfully fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the CSWs’ collaboration is of major importance.
The project PATNEP focuses on new approaches to deal with the CSW’s problems. It tries to get the CSWs organized, to give them a chance to identify and express their needs and to find new options to improve their living conditions. To offer them basic medical services as an approach to fellow CSWs follows the request identified by CSWs during discussions with them. The «Patenschaft Nepal Clinic» is established near the Shanti Nagar Gate close to Main Road. At the request of the CSWs, three foster families for up to 10 children each were opened, located in Koteshwar in three separate establishments. Non-Formal-Education is offered daily to CSW in the Bishnumati / Bangumati area.
General Project Objective
To improve the living conditions of CSWs in Kathmandu/Nepal.
Specific Objectives
Project’s Activities
Health Care facility for CSWs
Initiation and assistance to organize the CSWs
Care and support for HIV positive people
Activities for the CSWs’ children
Swiss organisation(s) |
Aids Info Docu Switzerland |
Partner(s) |
Dr. Puspha Bhatt (Project Leader) |
Key words |
Prevention and health promotion |
Land, region |
Nepal, Kathmandu |
Time frame |
Implemented in 1997; to be continued |
Contact |
Martin Boess,
Aids Info Docu Switzerland |
Related publications |
Retrospective analysis of symptomatic Patients with a HIV infection receiving an Ayurvedic Preparation (Geriforte). Poster presentation at the VI International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Melbourne, October 5-10, 2001: www.aidsnet.ch/prolink/t.cgi?retro Sex Work in Kathmandu: An attempt for prevention of child prostitution. Notes for an oral presentation at the VI International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific in Melbourne, October 5-10, 2001: www.aidsnet.ch/prolink/t.cgi?sexworker |