Prevention of Human Trafficking in Nepal

Fourteen-year-old girl, Laxmi (name changed) got almost got trafficked. Her mother left her when she was a year old for another man. Her father remarried. Her step-mother had not treated her well. They were originally from Sidhupalchowk but moved to Hetauda, Makwanpur district only six months back. She used to work in a restaurant as waitress and cook’s assistant. She was not too efficient, thus, got screamed at all the time. An acquaintance, Bijaya Paswan asked her if she would like to go to India to dance in weddings where she will get Rs 10,000 (about USD 95) per month. She will have to dance in weddings once in a while only, mostly she can just stay without having to do any other work. Earlier he and his father had tried to convince Laxmi’s father to send her to dance in India. The father had agreed to send her for the job. Bijaya’s friend, Rajedra Mahato, an Indian national had come to his place. He said that he would get her to cross the Nepal/India border but instead of crossing through Birgunj he said they will have to go through Narangadh and Thori (many human traffickers use this porous border with no formal crossing). However, as soon as the step mother heard of this she started to rant and rave that this is illegal way of crossing and she might get trafficked. A neighbor, who is a community policewoman heard of this, invited HIMRIGHTS, and other two organizations who work against human trafficking to consult on this case. Thus, we three organizations and the girl, jointly filed case against these three men, Bijaya Paswan—his father and Rajendra Mahato at the Makwanpur District Police Station, Dec 6, 2021. Currently the three are in prison. The girl is curreuntly in the Maiti Nepal shelter. We taken the permission for the photo of Laxmi from her and her parents.

All three organizations have been following up the case and the court hearings. Recently the court has already have come to conclusion of one and half year imprisonment. Usually, it takes much longer for final verdict; with our constant follow up had effective result. We have supported the girl financially, clothes, attended all the court during hearings, had followed up with the investigation too. It was great to see justice being upheld for Laxmi. In many cases the traffickers get scot free with bribing the justice system. Our joint effort was successful.

Laxmi is living in a shelter, getting counselling for positive self-image and confidence; will join school in next academic year, starting from May, 2022.

We have conducted many workshops at community and wider levels to raise awareness on the prevalence of human trafficking and the urgent need to stop it. Every year we maximize International Women’s Day to highlight and focus against human trafficking. Similarly, during the last International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022 we focused on the need to stop human trafficking, violence against women, child labor, unsafe migrations with banners and placards. This was jointly organized by the network of NGOS, working against human trafficking in Makwanpur. We, HIMRIGHTS, created in 2001 along with all the NGOs working against human trafficking and have continued to work on this issue and other rights violation especially against girls, children, and women. Whenever there is any incident of human trafficking or human rights violation we take the initiation for justice. Nepal Police have continuously been part of these rallies, which greatly helps us with our cause and justice.

Recently we rescued six girls, age 10 and 11 and one 15 year old on Nov 17, 2021 They are all from a very small minority ethnic group called Praja, who a few decades back used to live in mountain jungles and caves. These girls are fromRaksirang, Makwanpur district, central mid mountain region of Nepal. All six girls and Bikesh Praja, the guy who has taken them from their families are from the same ethnic and religious group. He had taken the children from their families to send them to school in Kathmandu. But due to COVID, they stopped receiving fund fortheir school fees and living expenses. The J.B. Foundation which supported them got shut down due to COVID. He brought them back to Manahari which is adjacent to Raksirang and kept them in a small room in his relative’s place. Bikesh had called local Lions Club for support many times. Thus, the representative of Lions Club along with others went to meet them, including the Child Development Centre, who promised to support the girls to school though twelfth grade. Bikesh had given them a dream of good future for the girls. He even taught the girls to tell everyone that they want to live in cities and not return back to their remote villages. Thus,the parents too were influenced by this dream and were not ready to take them home. According to local people Bikesh is used to raising funds by showing their poverty; he did not want to send them with their parents. The girls were his means to raise fund.All six were living in one small room and cooking in the same place too. The eldest one did the cooking and younger ones did the dishes.

My team from HIMRIGHTS along with other NGOs from Human Rights Protection and Human Trafficking Networkwere able to intercept them. We were worried that they could get trafficked as they were in a very vulnerable situation. We established The Human Rights Protection and Human Trafficking Network with 22 member organizations in 2008. This group gets mobilized any time there is any vulnerability of human trafficking.They invited the local government, the chairperson of the Raksirang Rural Municipality and relevant departments to be part of the interception. My team was able to negotiate with the local government to support them to send them to schools close to their homes. We believe children have the right to be with their families.

Jointly they were able to convince the families to take back their daughters and protect rights. All the six girls were received by their parents and taken home by their respective families.