Rights Group 'Aastha-Faith' Writes Open Letter to Balen Shah on Sex Workers' Human Rights

Kathmandu. Aastha-Faith, an organization concerned with the human rights and justice of millions of Nepali women engaged in sex work, has written an open letter to senior leader Balendra Shah (Balen), whom the Rastriya Swatantra Party has put forward as a future Prime Ministerial candidate. Rina Lama, Executive Chief of 'Aastha-Faith,' which has been working for the health and human rights of sex worker women for the last two decades, made the letter public.

The organization's film 'Lalima,' based on the experiences of three thousand sex workers, has been showing since Falgun 29. Executive Chief Rina says, 'We made the film to highlight the issue of human rights violations against sex workers.' She states that the film is not just a story but the voice of thousands of sex workers.

The letter mentions that millions of sex worker women are facing violence, abuse, and social exclusion.

'Many sex workers face daily abuse, discrimination, and are deprived of basic human rights. But their experiences rarely enter policy discussions. And when they are addressed, they are often misunderstood or presented solely from the perspective of crime or morality,' the letter states. Through the letter, Balen has been invited for a dialogue to ensure the human rights of these women.

The letter points out that the state must respect and protect sex workers as human beings and that policy reforms are necessary for their upliftment.

Executive Director Lama wrote at the end of the letter, 'Truly building an inclusive nation means ensuring the safety of citizens who are living lives of discrimination and marginalization. A nation becomes strong only when it protects the rights and dignity of its most marginalized citizens.'