Does evil exist?

We had a discussion about in this in one of our Uni SE meetings. Well, it wasn't really the topic but seeped into the discussion. Some people don't think that evil exists. I wasn't very sure about it, but then I went to the Human Rights Film Festival and watched a movie about innocent Burmese girls, taken from their villages and tricked into a life of prostitution in Thailand. They usually come form poor families and are told that they will get work in the city - washing dishes, cleaning etc. - and thus be able to earn some money to help their family. So scared, but optimistic about the prospect of supporting their family, they go along with these smugglers and are taken to brothels and similar such places. They don't really understand what is happening. Some of them eventually contract STDs.

After watching that, I was pretty sure that evil exists. And its not just a force, but some people are evil. They knowingly trick and manipulate innocent people to lead life of misery so they can profit from it. It is beyond just greed and selfishness. There has to be an element of evil in it. And that is just one example.