Minors in Kathmandu's Adult Entertainment Sector
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Minors in Kathmandu’s adult entertainment sector: What’s driving demand? Contents 3 4 5 Abbreviations Definitions Executive Summary 6 8 10 Introduction Methodology Literature Review 12 18 26 Findings Customers Conclusion Acknowledgment We are grateful for the time and willingness of Cover image: Girls work at a dance bar in the Tamel neighborhood of all those who agreed to be interviewed for this Kathmandu, Nepal. © Katie Orlinsky, Legatum Limited, 2018. report. Authors: Subas Risal and Elizabeth Hacker, Sutra (on behalf of the Freedom Fund). Published: September 2018 2 THE FREEDOM FUND Abbreviations AES Adult Entertainment Sector CSEC Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children CSO Civil Society Organisation INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation NGO Non-Governmental Organisation SUTRA Support to Transformation Nepal THE FREEDOM FUND 3 Definitions Cabin Restaurant Guest House Usually a small restaurant with plywood partitions Guest houses do not provide entertainment but are that create small private ‘cabins’ for customers to venues where customers from dohoris, dance bars be entertained by wait staff. Food and drinks are and cabin restaurants take women and girls for sex. sold at inflated prices, to pay for sexual favours in They are often found in close proximity to these some cases. venues. Some guest houses may have workers in residence who provide sexual services. Dance Bars Customers are entertained by women and girls Bhatti Pasal/Khaja Ghar dancing to music, sometimes scantily dressed. Small scale eateries where food and alcoholic Waitresses sit with customers and may engage in beverages are available. These venues may also sexual activities, which may include kissing and have employees who provide sexual services or be touching or more direct sexual acts. Additional places where this can be arranged. income can be earned from receiving commission from the food and alcohol purchased at inflated Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children prices. Dance Bars are generally more expensive (CSEC) than cabin restaurants and attract a more affluent Includes anyone under the age of 18 who is clientele. Direct sex may be arranged between involved in a commercial sex act. A commercial sex employees and customers but often takes place act occurs when someone engages in a sex act in outside of the dance bar. exchange for money or other economic benefits. A person under 18 does not need to prove that they Dohori Restaurant were forced, deceived or coerced into carrying out An establishment where customers are entertained the commercial sex act. by Nepali music and dance. Some dohori restaurants cater to families wanting food and Gatekeeper entertainment; however, some primarily attract An individual who manages prostitutes and male customers seeking music and female arranges clients for them, taking a percentage of companionship. their earnings in return. Massage Parlour Massage parlours provide traditional massage therapy, but at many venues, customers can arrange to be provided with sexual services. 4 THE FREEDOM FUND Executive Summary Kathmandu’s adult entertainment sector (AES) is All those associated with the AES easily blamed made up of a complex web of venues that includes other actors for the exploitation of children. massage parlours, dance bars, cabin restaurants Customers blamed owners who knowingly hired and guest houses. These workplaces employ young minors. Owners blamed girls who lied about their women and girls as waitresses and dancers who age. Managers blamed the government’s failure to entertain male patrons. Many of these venues effectively enforce laws prohibiting children from have become a front for commercial sex, and, working in AES venues. When the exploitation alarmingly, the commercial sexual exploitation of of children was perceived as being indirect, children (CSEC). Similarly, establishments in the individuals did not feel implicated. wider hospitality industry, such as snack shops (bhattipasals and khajaghars) and some hotels, The research suggests there is a general lack have also started providing these services and of awareness about the hidden pressures that allowed similar exploitation. According to a 2010 constrain girls’ choices. Interviewees often equated report by Tdh Nepal, as many as one-third of exploitation with force. They argued that if girls females working in Kathmandu’s AES are under the are not being forced to engage in sexual activities, age of 18.1 then they are not being exploited. Because the AES workers could choose which customers to This report seeks to understand the profiles entertain, the transactions were perceived as being of those who use the services of children. consensual. When the encounters seem to be After conducting in-depth interviews with the consensual, it is easier for customers to feel like owners, managers and customers of the venues they aren’t doing anything wrong. where CSEC takes place, we discovered the widespread prevalence and acceptance of a Additionally, the exact ages of AES workers are culture that permits and justifies exploitation. While often unknown, and this ambiguity allows those interviewees broadly agreed that sex with children who frequent AES venues to be wilfully ignorant is morally reprehensible, each group shifted of any involvement in exploitative practices. the blame for CSEC on a different group. They Customers thought it was inappropriate to ask created narratives to excuse the use of minors in how old the girls were, and managers and owners the sector, supported by cultural factors that have reported overlooking missing age verification made the coveting of girls acceptable. Those who documents. By not knowing whether or not the use the services of children are able to normalise workers are children, actors can avoid culpability. their behaviour and distance themselves from the Nepal’s political environment also facilitates the harmful implications of their actions. exploitation of children in the AES. Although laws exist to protect children, weak governance Among those interviewed in this study, reservations structures and poor law enforcement have about sexual activity with children were easily rendered those laws ineffective. Persistent dismissed. A common justification is that girls are governance issues with Nepal’s institutions make it benefitting financially from working in the AES. difficult to bring about real change. In a country where the ability to participate in an increasingly consumerist society is highly valued, The purpose of this study was to bring to light the girls’ perceived economic power is seen as authentic accounts of those involved in with adequate compensation. The inflated prices of the sexual exploitation of children. An in-depth food and drink sold at many AES venues also understanding of the attitudes of those who use help excuse the presence of minors, as customers the services of children could inform behavioural believe they are paying good money and expect change campaigns and other polices aimed at to be entertained. Moreover, many managers protecting minors. This research shows that the and owners believe they are protecting girls by narratives that normalise, justify and excuse the offering them accommodation and a salary. These sexual exploitation of children must be challenged. actors view themselves as empathetic rather than exploitative, regardless of the exploitation the girls may face at the same time. THE FREEDOM FUND 5 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the study 1.2 Key research questions In the past ten years, there has been a dramatic This study seeks to understand who the customers growth of massage parlours, dance bars, cabin are and address the reasons why these customers restaurants and guest houses in Kathmandu that select (or do not avoid) the services of children are associated with the adult entertainment sector in venues where CSEC takes place. It explores (AES),2 which is made up of a complex web of customers’ perceptions towards the presence of venues. These workplaces employ young women children in the AES and the related sex industry. and girls as waitresses and dancers who entertain male patrons. Many of these venues have become Customers a front for commercial sex, and, alarmingly, the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Who are the customers? What is their According to a 2010 report by Tdh Nepal, as many demographic profile and what are their social as one-third of females working in Kathmandu’s networks? AES are under the age of 18.3 What are their reasons for selecting (or not This study aims to understand the profiles of the avoiding) the use of children? owners, managers and customers of venues where CSEC takes place. Focusing on the profiles of those What do customers understand about the who use the services of children, the research seeks laws pertaining to CSEC and what is their to understand their attitudes, perceptions and perception and attitude towards these laws? reasons for using, owning and managing venues where CSEC occurs. In addition, this study also How has the earthquake and/or trade embargo explores the perceptions and understanding of the affected the presence of different kinds of laws and regulations surrounding CSEC in Nepal customers, their spending habits or their and other relevant legal provisions that might choice of activities/venues in the sector? protect children. Owners and Managers Our hope is to generate nuanced, non-judgemental and authentic accounts of both the outer and inner Who are the owners and managers of the worlds of those who are involved with CSEC. In- venues in which CSEC takes place? depth understanding could inform potential media and behavioural change campaigns that target What are the attitudes and perceptions of these specific groups and those who may influence owners and managers towards CSEC and them (e.g. peers and relatives). The research will towards the presence of child workers in these also be used to assist service providers to reach venues? owners and managers in more targeted ways that are informed by a nuanced understanding of those Why do owners think that customers may engaged in this sector.