Prevention of Human Trafficking in Nepal

An awareness program on human rights, human trafficking and unsafe migration

Awareness program on human rights and human trafficking was successfully conducted in Manahari Rural Municipality of Makwanpur District, organized by Manahari Rural Municipality and facilitated by HIMRIGHTS, March 12-13, 2026. A total of 44 students and teachers from four community schools under Manahari Rural Municipality participated in the program. The program was facilitated by Kumari Waiba from HIMRIGHTS Makwanpur. Due to HIMRIGHTS’ long experience and active work against human trafficking, the organization is frequently invited by various sectors to conduct such facilitation programs.

During the two-day program, participants were informed about the concept, development process, characteristics, and fundamental aspects of human rights. On the second day, awareness was raised regarding the definition of human trafficking, the current context, its types and causes, as well as national and international legal provisions related to it.

The students and teachers were also educated on the role society should play in reducing human trafficking. At the end of the program, the participating students and teachers expressed their commitment to share the knowledge and lessons learned during the program with other children, families, and communities, and to work towards protecting human rights and uniting society against human trafficking.

NATIONAL POLICY AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING-2026 IS APPROVED

Government of Nepal approved the National policy against human trafficking-2082 on Jan. 12, 2026. AATWIN, HIMRIGHTS and other concerned agencies have advocated for decades for this Policy. AATWIN and HIMRIGHTS worked as experts on the Policy draft for last two years.

This policy was led by Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizens along with other line Ministries on the formulation of this Policy, HIMRIGHTS Chairperson Ms. Anjana Shakya and AATWIN Executive Director Ms. Benu Maya Gurung, worked as issue experts on this Policy. 

Since its establishment, HIMRIGHTS has been actively contributing to the campaign against human trafficking by joining various national and international organizations and networks and is continuously striving to make the society free from human trafficking through various activities and policy advocacy from the local to the national level.

The Alliance Against Trafficking in Women and Children in Nepal (AATWIN) is a national network of non-governmental organizations formed in 1997 to combat human trafficking and advocate for the human rights of women and children. The network currently includes over 48 member organizations across Nepal. 

AATWIN utilizes a human rights-based approach, viewing human trafficking as a severe violation rooted in socio-economic and gender inequalities. A key focus is on clarifying the complexities of human trafficking for its members and the public.

Dialogue with Girls Program

In this quarter, we were integral part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, from Nov. 25- Dec.10, 2025, with the international slogan ''UNITE TO END DIGITAL VOILENCE AGAINTS ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS'' and the national slogan  was “Use Technology Correctly: End Gender-Based Violence”, awareness programs were conducted at various places in Makawanpur district organized by Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City and coordinated by Network for Human Rights Protection and against Human Trafficking. HIMRIGHTS is the founder of this Network.

The main objective of the campaign against gender-based violence is to inform the students about the laws and regulations made on gender-based violence and to create awareness among the community/ adolescents through dialogue with adolescents to reduce gender-based violence. The campaign was to raise voice existing gender based violence and prepare a strategy to reduce it.

A total of 315 girls studying in grades 11 and 12 at Makwanpur Multiple Campus, Hetauda, Hetauda Campus and Jyoti Secondary School, Harnamadi actively participated in the program. Bishnu Kumari Lamichhane, Director of the Women, Children and Inclusion Division of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, Kumari Waiba of HIMRIGHTS and representatives from Network, Maiti Nepal and Nepal Human Rights Organization, facilitated the program and expressed their views on the current situation, the violence experienced by women and adolescents. In the program, the violence and abuse they had suffered were shared and discussed; how to report these violence, existing legal provisions, and how to access to the services.

The expected outcome of these activities: will increase awareness among adolescent girls, encourage every member of society to raise their voice against gender-based violence, and work effectively to ensure justice against violence.