Maiti Nepal, a non-profit organisation dedicated to controlling women trafficking and helping victims, informed that around 4,000 girls are rescued every year while in the process of being trafficked. 

According to Maiti Nepal’s annual report, in the year 2014, 30 girls were rescued whereas there were 165 cases of discussion and reconciliation, 139 divorces, 59 alimony cases, 100 property cases, 64 cases requiring legal assistance, 29 marriage and birth registration and citizenship cases, 338 search cases, 12 human trafficking cases and four rape by kin cases were registered. 

Stating that human trafficking had become a major problem, the NGO stressed the need to strictly implement the prevalent laws to curb the problem. 

“In a year, around 4,000 girls are rescued, most of them from the border while they were being trafficked,” the organisation informed. However, not all the cases are registered, only such cases in which the victims have been exploited are registered. 

Achyut Kumar Nepal, communication officer at Maiti Nepal said, “The laws are not strong enough to secure the victims. Although human trafficking and transportation control act 2007 is being implemented, they are not sufficient. The act states about compensation, but the culprits don’t provide the fund, they vanish after imprisonment. The state should bring provision so that providing fund is made available to the victims,” he said. 

Nepal added, “The act doesn’t cover issues like rehabilitation and health of the victims. The act doesn’t focus on the victims.” He further said the provision of continuous hearing has been made in some of the districts, but it takes at least six months. A fast-track court has to be developed so that victims get justice, he argued. 

According to Maiti Nepal, human trafficking has been increasing rapidly globally. Every year, almost 200,000 people are sold. In South Asia, 150,000 females are sold for sex trade every year. 

Published on: 3 February 2015 | The Himalayan Times