Prevention of Human Trafficking in Nepal

We had a very exciting and busy final quarter reporting for 2022. HIMRIGHTS has been working for the prevention of human trafficking even before its formal registration in 1996. We were integral part of the NGO team who brought back 128 survivors from different brothels of Mumbai in 1996. We have focused our work on their empowerment, leadership, human rights and dignity of the survivors. We (including other NGOs working in this sector) envisioned and encouraged them to start their own organization, Shakti Samuha. It was a huge struggle for us to lobby for them to be accepted as equals and leaders, their voices to be integrated in all laws and policies. Recently more survivors have been integral part in the policy making process. We have closely worked with survivors for decades. This year the Ministry of Women Children Senior Citizens have selected the Chairperson of Shakti Samuha, as one of the key speakers for National Day Against Human Trafficking, Sept. 5, 2022. This was a recognition of all our work both of survivors and NGOs—it was a joy, honor, and pride for us to listen to her speak in this high level national event organized by the Ministry. HIMRIGHTS has worked with her very closely.

In the past, the rally for this day was organized by both the Ministry and NGOs, especially Alliance Against Trafficking of Women and Children in Nepal, a network of 43 NGOs working in this issue, HIMRIHGTS is the co-founder of this network. Since Covid-19 Pandemic, the rally had not been physically organized; however, this year the Ministry asked the rally to be organized by AATWIN only. We supported financially for water, juice and cookies along with four other organizations. Twenty six NGOs participated with 524 participants. Similarly, we supported the rally on the same in Makwanpur; organized jointly by Social Development Ministry of Bagmati Province and Network Against Human Trafficking and Human Rights Protection. This year’s theme was “Trafficking is the Concern of all three levels of the Government”.

We conducted one day workshop on Sept 4, 2022, on what is human trafficking, current trends and legal provisions in Shree Prajaadharbhut Bidhyalaya (School), Manahari in collaboration with the School, Maiti Nepal and Shanti Foundation.

The members, HIMRIGHTS, Sanahatharu, Nari Sanranchyan Kendra, Maiti Nepal, Asmita Nepal, ETSC Nepal and Esther Benjamin Memorial members of Network Against Human Trafficking and Human Rights Protection placed a hoarding board in the Hetauda bus park, which is the main East West highway to raise awareness and alert vulnerable population against human trafficking. This activity was conducted as part of 16 days of activism against gender ased violence.  HIMRIGHTS founded this network.

We rescued four young women from Niharika Hotel, Hetauda Bus Park. They have been made to work for free in upkeep of the hotel and forced to have sexual relationship with their clients. One of the women made a verbal complain to local police, while counseling the counsellor found out there were three more women in this exploitative situation. Thus, the district police raided the hotel and asked HIMRIGHTS, Sanahatharu, Maiti Nepal, and Shanti Foundation to be part of the rescue team. The owner of the hotel is in police custody and the case is registered for human trafficking.