ABSTRACT
Regulation of the sex industry is envisaged as a way forward in several countries. The organisation and regulation of the sex industry is a highly debated issue in contemporary Nepal and is frequently featured in the national media, often with sensationalistic headlines. The sex industry in Nepal differs from many other developing countries in that there is a close connection to cross-border trafficking. Prior studies claim that workers engaged in the entertainment sector are subject to increasing sexual and labour exploitation. The issue of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution in Nepal came to international attention in the mid-1990s, after 128 Nepalese girls were rescued from brothels in India. Police raids at the behest of local and international organisations engaged in the rescue and rehabilitation of sex workers are quite common across countries. The analysis of the responses to the sex industry in Nepal reveals a perceived overlap between the sex industry and sex trafficking, as seen in various countries.
