Australia to help end of trafficking in Nepal

Australian Ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk has said that as no government and no nation can meet the challenge of human trafficking and slavery alone, everyone has to assume responsibility and every nation must take action to end the barbaric act.

Announcing new Australian funding to support Nepal's endeavours to end trafficking and human slavery, she said human trafficking and slavery are barbaric, and it is evil and it has no place in a civilized world.

She was speaking at a consultation on "the Status of the Palermo Protocol post its Ratification" organised jointly by The Asian Foundation and Forum for Women Law and Development here this evening.

Also speaking at the programme, Chairperson of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Federal Parliament Krishna Bhakta Pokhrel said concerned authorities must ensure their duty to implement the Protocol and the commitment made in the international forum.

Following a directive from the Committee, an action plan for the implementation of the Protocol has been developed by the Home Ministry, which should now work as a foundation for the implementation of the protocol. Nepal ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2000) in 2020.

Founder and Chairperson of Shakti Samuha Charimaya Tamang called for the amendment of laws and formulation of necessary laws as per the protocol, victim-centric approach while dealing with survivors, the procedure for rescue and repatriation and bilateral agreements between governments and coordination between concerned authorities.

Under-secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs Basant Bhattarai and Head of Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Section at the Ministry of Women Children and Senior Citizen Meena Poudel shed light on the efforts taken by their respective ministries in controlling and preventing human trafficking and transportation.

FWLD Executive Director Sabin Shrestha said the FWLD in collaboration with the Asia Foundation and funding of Australian Aid is going to work on the implementation of the Palermo Protocol and strengthening of legislation. The FWLD will also work on the formulation of necessary provincial laws along with the capacity building of concerned authorities.