Prevention of Human Trafficking in Nepal

In last quarter, we reported the art workshop on human trafficking conducted at Shree Praja Jagrit Aadharbhut School, in Raksirang, Makwanpur. This was just before the lockdown in Nepal, specifically in Makawanpur district. The lockdown came into effect since March 24, 2020 but in between there has been some slight ease in it. However, due to the increase in the number of infected and death toll, there has been new restrictions in place around various districts. As of today (September 5) the number of infected has reached 45,277 nationwide, while the death toll has gone up to 280. In our working district Makwankpur, 5000 people have had PCR tests, 539 confirmed positive of which 555 are from the local population and 8 deaths due to Covid-19. Since March 19, 2020 all the government and community schools have closed down except for some private schools, who have been conducting online classes. In addition to covid-19, there has been numerous floods and landslides in and around our working areas. Thus, all the school that we have been conducting the awareness programs on human trafficking has remained closed.

However, we have been communicating with the schools and local government regarding the possibilities of reopening the schools. Meanwhile, in another HIMRIGHTS project in the same schools with the support of CORE International, we been supporting educational scholarships and other empowerment activities with marginalized children. We have provided been able to provide tutorial classes for limited scholarship recipients in coordination with the local governments and schools. Thus, we have been continuing to provide tutorial classes for only those who live close to the schools while maintaining social distancing.

We are supposed to provide Human Trafficking Awareness programs in Suryodaya Higher Secondary School in Raksirang Ward no.3. However, currently this school premise is being used for Covid-19 quarantine purposes. As a result, we were not allowed to enter or take any photographs of the school. However, we have been communicating with Shree Praja Jagrit Aadharbhut School, the principle and the chairperson of the school management community had informed us that the programs we conducted in the last reporting period has had positive impact on the participants and students of that school, learning and sharing on the topic of human trafficking. However, we cannot communicate with our participants and/or their parents because they do not own telephones. Additionally, our mobility is restricted due to the current lockdowns. As of March 24, the government has banned all meetings, workshops, and conferences any functions consisting of large number of people. Due these circumstances, we are unable to conduct any formal programs. However, we will continue to communicate with principals, teachers, school management communities, and local governments of respective schools and wards to conduct our programs as soon as the restrictions have been removed. Our plan is to conduct art workshops in all four school we work in and do follow ups to assess the impacts. But we will have to wait until the Corona Virus situation improves.

Photographs of School that have remained closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic