BBC Radio programme about trafficking of girls in India

[vesuvia]

There is a BBC Radio 4 programme about the trafficking of girls in India called "Crossing Continents:People trafficking in India". It reports the kidnapping and trafficking of girls into prostitution, forced marriage and domestic slavery.

In India, female foetuses are aborted and female babies are killed at a disprotionately high rate compared to males. This causes a "shortage" of girls. Many men claim they are "frustrated" because there are not enough women to service their domestic and sexual "needs". Girls are kidnapped and trafficked to supply these supposed "needs". Many of the girls are raped and, if a resultant foetus is female, the girls are often forced to have an abortion. This distorts the mismatch in the numbers of males and females even more, leading to greater demand for kidnapped and trafficked girls. If the girl escapes, her life is still hell because she and her family are shamed and ostracised. It's a vicious circle of misogynistic madness.

You can listen to the programme on BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ppmrb
or you can download and keep the podcast from www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/cc

[vesuvia]

oops, disprotionately should read disproportionately.

[Childrenofthestones]

I heard this report too. It was very disheartening, especially as it came hot on the heels of another report in the same show of the deliberately ignored practice female genital mutilation in the UK.

[sashh]

I heard it.

The man explaining that the Indian government's awareness campaign had an impact on his 'business'. I wanted to punch him.

[Salbertina]

Heard it also v and -making...
The casual misogyny unbelievable...
That girl abducted on her way home then sold on to abusive family.. She was lucky in that she managed to return but as her whole village knows about her "shame", will never marry/have normal life...
Why isn't FB/media full of debates/ire about this??? Call me naive but its worth getting worked up about

[Allinonebucket]

I heard it too. Very sad. Those poor girls, living in a society where being kidnapped, beaten, and raped, kept in slavery, is "shameful".
:(