'Ignored by society, Afghan dancing boys suffer centuries-old tradition'

I think we all know that children are made sex slaves – among other atrocities that are constantly perpetrated –, but, most of the time we choose to ignore it or we don’t even think about it. Living our own lives, focused on our own problems, dealing with our own questions and troubles, we tend to ignore what’s around us – not with malicious motive, but because it’s “natural”.

However, there are people who live their lives struggling for better conditions for others, who dedicate their lives for peace, for the victory of the human rights, for the “common humanity” we’ve been talking about, but what about the others, the ones who do nothing?

I just can’t stop wondering: what if we all did something? Even if just a tiny thing?

With great sadness I read this:

«(…) mimicking the entertainment and sexual appeal of female dancers. (…) focusing on every step in order to please his master and his master's guests.

(…) The boy is but one youth among many throughout the country forced into an age-old underground tradition known as "bacha bazi," or "boy play," in which young boys are taken from their families, made to dance and used as sex slaves by powerful men. (…)

The abuse stays on the backburner of issues in Afghanistan. People are aware of it, but they don't really talk about it. Almost everyone in the country is coping with some level of injustice, and they are just trying to survive.(…)

"It continues because of the culture of impunity and lack of legal provision against this practice," Mahmodi explained.

Farhad,19, and Jamel, 20, are two grown dancers who were forced into "bacha bazi" about five years ago.

Farhad was 13 when his older neighbor tricked him into coming to his home. He was made to watch a sex tape and then raped. After the brutal assault, he was taken to another location where he was locked up and used as a sex slave for five months.

"I got used to him," Farhad said, trying to explain why he stayed with his neighbor after the traumatizing experience.

"He would sometimes take me to parties, and sometimes other places. I was with him all the time," he said.

In Afghan society the victims of rape and assault --- both male and female --- are often persecuted and punished rather than the perpetrator. The shame forces boys like Farhad to continue in leading such lifestyles, even when they have the chance to break away.

(…) "I make them study, dress them, feed them. Any money I make I spend on my family. I don't want them to be like this, be like me," he said, brushing his shoulder length hair away from his eyes, framing his thin oval face.

Farhad and Jamel say their families know what is going on now but are powerless to stop it -- in fact they need the money and income they make.

Both Jamel and Farhad look and act more like women than men, a trait that can be deadly in Afghanistan's male-dominated society. Even the police can't be counted on for protection.

Farhad said that he was taken from a party by four police officers one night and almost gang raped at the station Before their commander walked in and stopped the assault. But then, "He said if I wanted to be set free I should give him my money and my mobile," Farhad said. "I had no real choice, so I gave him my money and mobile."

The boys said they are continuously threatened, beaten and raped by men who attend the parties they dance at; parties fueled by alcohol and drugs.

(…)

"We are not happy with this line of work," Jamel said. "We say that it would be better if God could just kill us rather than living like this."»

Source: CNN @
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/26/ctw.afghanistan.sex.trade/index.html