User:Bkhokhar/sandbox

= Bacha Bazi =

General Overview
The practice of these 'dancing boys' has been established for over 300 years across Persia and South Asia. Modern day practice of this is most common within the country of Afghanistan. This tradition starts from a 'Bacha Baz' or a man who wishes to engage in these activities to scout more poorer areas for younger aged boys. Generally they look boys between ages of 10-12.

It is then afterwards that the Bacha Baz pays off the family of the boy usually with an exchange of goods or money. The families who choose to give up their child are often desperate for funds and don't fully know that their child will be used for sexual favors or potentially raped. In some occasions the older men kidnap or abduct the children without having any exchange with their parents. Usually they are then taken to location where they can learn traditional singing, dancing or other art forms for around a period of a year. These boys are then expected to perform for their Bacha Baz in whatever they deem fit.

Throughout their years in captivity the boys are often forced to perform at parties or gatherings of older men. Towards the end of the event, their owners may choose to give the boy for the night to another older man to provide sexual favors. These boys are kept in captivity until they are about 20 years old which is when they are then deemed to be sexually 'unappealing'. When these boys age out of the system many of them become trainers or teachers for future Bacha Bazi.

According to the GeoPolitical Monitor, the gender segregation within Afghanistan has significantly contributed to the increase of Bacha Bazi. Since women are not legally and socially allowed to dance in public, younger boys are often used. Majority of the country follows the religion of Islam which strictly prohibits Homosexuality, but those involved in these actions often justify themselves by stating since they aren't in love with the younger boys, they aren't doing anything religiously wrong.

Psychological Health of a Bacha Bazi
After repeated years of being sexually abused and raped, former Bacha Bazi youth often face a variety of psychological issues. Although this issue is quite common, it's considered taboo out in the open. For this reason, the young boys are often isolated and shunned from society from not only coming from a poor background but also for having participating (consensually or not) in this act. According to by AIHRC, many of these young boys suffer from severe PTSD and a lack self confidence.

In some recorded cases, boys who have grown out of this system display severe anger issues and show signs of revenge and hostile behavior. This often to leads to conflict with their current or previous owners which then leads to casualties and/or deaths on both sides.

Many of these boys fall into drug and alcohol abuse to cope with their trauma, which occasionally leads to overdosing and death. Many of the boys often show signs of physical trauma such as broken limbs and teeth or more severe cases such as internal hemorrhaging or prolapse in the intestinal track.

Present Day
Currently, Bacha Bazi still exists in many places in Afghanistan. As of today there is no clear law within the Afghani constitution which directly forbids it, where leads to a loophole many Bacha Baz's use to continue their actions. Additionally, the locale areas where Bacha Bazi is most prominent is run by local warlords who have much social and political influence. These warlords are former Mujahideen commanders who hold many higher political positions. Police men are often reported to accept bribes from these individuals and there is evidence to suggest many of them participate in using these boys as well. In an article by the AIHRC, 89% of Bacha Baz interviewed reported that they have not been prosecuted for their actions. Additionally 90% of the local population have said they not seen these individuals prosecuted legally either.