INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Kathmandu, December 13
The National Human Rights Commission has recommended the federal government to amend the existing Human Trafficking
and Transportation (Control) Act-2007 to make it consistent with the federal structure of the country.
&It is the need of the hour to amend
the act in a way that addresses the issue of formation and mobilisation of mechanisms as per the federal setup, rescue trafficking victims
and protect vulnerable groups,& stated the annual report released by the rights body last week
It also urged the government to formulate and implement policies and procedures relating to repatriation of trafficking victims, reunion
with their families and their rehabilitation.
According to the report, it was very urgent to establish trafficking victim support fund at
all three levels — central, provincial and local — and operate at least one trafficking victim protection home and rehabilitation centre
in each province for the victims suffering from mental trauma
The government has been urged to approve the Anti-human Trafficking Bureau Regulations at the earliest and expand its units to the district
&We recommend the government to provide specialised criminal investigation training to the police personnel working in AHTB
It is also important to enter into bilateral and multilateral agreements for effective investigation of trafficking and protection of
victims,& it read.
The government has also been told to coordinate with the NHRC and AHTB for occupational health safety of Nepali migrant
workers and direct the Nepali missions abroad to concentrate on rescue of trafficking victims
The report also shows poor implementation status of recommendations made by the NHRC in relation to human trafficking control, rescue and
assistance of victims and their access to justice.
Human trafficking is not only a heinous crime, but also a vicious form of exploitation
facing Nepali youths and children
The report said around 1.5 million population was at risk of trafficking in 2018-19 and nearly 35,000 of them ended up in various forms of
Cases of human trafficking are often trivialised by linking them to other aspects such as migration for employment
Human traffickers have been capitalising on lack of employment opportunity, low education level and poverty to lure the victims, it said
Key agents of trafficking comprise a range of individuals as well as agencies, including recruiting firms, education consultancies and
marriage bureaus.
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