Red Light Area

'Human sex trafficking is the most common form of modern-day slavery.' (FBI, 2014)

'Sex trafficking is a growing global enterprise driven by deception, coercion and force.  Traffickers transport or detain their victims for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.  This trade in rape for profit thrives in the absence of robust law enforcement to ensure the protection of the law for vulnerable children and women.' (IJM, 2014)

Please watch this video from International Justice Mission about the magnitude of sex slavery:

‘Right now in India, it’s more likely that you’ll be struck by lightning than go to jail for holding slaves.’ (IJM)

 'Those of us who live in freedom are responsible for those who don't.' (IJM)

For respect and protection of the workers and Rahab's Rope organization, we were limited in taking pictures, and in sharing them publicly as well.  Below are a few.

It's definitely a eye opening experience as you reach the entrance to the Red Light district with 20+ women standing on the road trying to attract customers, some with babies on their hips.  Alot of communication is done by eye contact and facial gestures.  We were told not to make eye contact with the men...amazing how this habit in our culture can get you in trouble in a different culture.

Women are not usually dressed in traditional clothing but rather in old 1980's clothing - cotton mini skirts, old t-shirts, blue jeans, etc. with a large amount of makeup and jewelry.  After the initial entrance into the Red Light district there's just alot of little shops/homes (what I thought could be homes) where these women are sitting outside on lawnchairs waiting for customers. It definitely was an eye opening experience walking through the brothels and hearing some of the stories from these ladies.  It’s so sad to see the children born and raised in the brothel areas knowing it’s just a matter of time before they’re forced into this same livelihood.  

Rahab's Rope has a Center where women and high risk girls in the area can come for English classes, life skills training, Bible teaching, prevention programs, assistance with healthcare, aftercare, etc.  This picture below is taken just outside the center.  

So many runt looking dogs everywhere, saw some with worms too - gross!

Love their amazing mende and artistic talent.

Painting some toes.  

Very interesting talking to these women, listening to their stories of how they were deceived into some 'glamourous' new job only to be forced into sex trafficking.  Many women from surrounding countries were promised nanny jobs, modeling, etc.  Interesting to see pregnant women working also.  

'The poorest are so vulnerable because their justice systems – police, courts and laws – don’t protect them from violent people. According to the United Nations, justice systems in the developing world are so broken that the majority of poor people live life “far from the law’s protection.'  IJM, 2014

We walked through the area to and from the center inviting women to our Christmas party. One lady I particularly remember speaking with asked why would we come from Canada/US to India to see these women of the lowest people group and profession?  Loaded question...I said it's because of what Christ did for me, despite my imperfections He came to earth to die for me because of His love for me.  I want to pass His love along to these women. She requested us to pray with her, so we did.  We invited her to our Christmas party, she denied the invitation saying she didn't want to come because she gets too nervous, uncomfortable, and anxious in group events.  In my mind I'm thinking how can a social event be more stressful then working in a brothel?  How unfortunate that this is her 'comfort zone' or her 'normal'.  How deceptive Satan can be!

John 8:44b  'He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.' (NLT) 

One day I was able to put some nursing skills to use by teaching a wound care class to some of the women one morning, and some girls in the afternoon.  To think about these innocent girls potentially ended up as a sex slave breaks my heart.

The magnitude of the problem is so big, awful, ugly, evil, and discouraging...yet God's so much bigger then that and He is much more passionate about this then we humans are.  

I John 4:4 'But you belong to God, my dear children.  You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater then the spirit who lives in the world.'  (NLT)