Reactivation of the association of massage palours and spa venues

CLARISSA conducted research with small business owners operating in the adult entertainment sector in order to better understand the dynamics of running small informal businesses that contribute to the emergence and perpetuation of the worst forms of child labour. An Action Research Group was created with the business owners of massage parlours and spa venues in a tourist area in Kathmandu Valley, where the project’s life story collection had gathered evidence that many children (girls) arrived from villages in Kathmandu in search of work. The Action Research Group gathered evidence on issues to address within the massage and spa sector. They renewed an association for massage and spa venues, built capacity of the newly elected association members, conducted monitoring visits to business venues, created and distributed a code of conduct, and conducted a media advocacy programme.