By Govinda Bhattarai, Program Director at GSIF Nepal

Human trafficking is one of the most horrific crimes against humanity and affects millions of people worldwide. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, gender, ethnicity or background. In 2021, an estimated 50 million people were trapped in modern slavery, including 28 million in forced labor and 22 million in forced marriage.

But what is human trafficking? It is defined as “the transportation, recruitment, transfer, harboring, and receipt of people through force, fraud, or coercion for exploitation”. Human trafficking involves Act, Means, and Purpose in the process. According to the UN Trafficking in Persons Report 2024, adults make up 62% of the total trafficked. Women and girls are most often trafficked for sexual exploitation, while men and boys are mainly trafficked for forced labor or criminal activities.

The case of Nepal

Nepal is a country of origin, transit, and destination from the perspective of human trafficking. An estimated 1.9 million people in Nepal are vulnerable to trafficking – a record increase in the number of people who are at risk.

Though the majority of the trafficking in the past used to take place for sexual exploitation in India, there has recently been a major shift in the destination and purposes of the trafficking of children and adults. Besides India, girls and women are trafficked overseas, along with an increasing number of men during the process of foreign employment. Reports also show growing concerns about the increasing trend of internal trafficking – especially in adult entertainment sectors like cabin restaurants, massage parlors, dance bars, and similar other settings.

Each year, the projects run by GSIF Nepal in collaboration with our local partners Opportunity Village Nepal and KIN India rescue, repatriate, and reintegrate hundreds of girls and young women. The stories and testimonies available here reflect how trafficking affects people of all genders and ages, and occurs for different purposes.

Causes and challenges

One of the biggest issues lies at the political and institutional level: there is a lack of strong institutional mechanisms at local level and clear operating guidelines, as well as many policy gaps. The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) – HTTC Act for example is a measure that has envisioned committees at multiples levels. But while national and district committees are in place and functioning, many local committees are yet to be formed. Moreover, the HTTC Act does not fully align with international standards such as established in the Palermo Protocol, and urgently needs to be amended.

Next, repatriation requires a timely flow of information between embassies and the various Ministries. There are areas of improvement in prompt coordination and communication for enhanced efficacy in the process.

Finally, despite ongoing efforts by the state and civil society organizations, the reintegration of survivors often fails to ensure a victim-centered approach. Each case of trafficking has its own dynamics and requires significant investment, but this is often insufficient. In addition, survivors who return home often face stigmatization and rejection in their communities, making them more vulnerable to being re-trafficked.

What has worked well

Despite these challenges, Nepal made progress in the fight against human trafficking and implemented effective solutions:

The government has established an Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau within the Nepal Police, which has played a crucial role in carrying out investigations, rescues, repatriations, legal enforcement and cross-organization collaboration for the reintegration of survivors. It also operates a toll-free hotline (1177) for quick reporting.

In addition, survivors now have access to 94 One-Stop Crisis Management Centers that provide medical care, counseling, and legal support. The government also provides financial support to NGOs operating residential care services and has granted approval to over 40 civil society organisations to implement services for survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence in different parts of the country.

The Way Forward

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to human trafficking as its causes are deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and cultural realities. Strategies that engage stakeholders at different layers are therefore essential. Among the main approaches likely to have a significant impact are:

The engagement, preparation and mobilization of the communities. In 2022/2023, almost 170,000 people vulnerable to trafficking were intercepted at the India-Nepal border through collective efforts on border surveillance by government agencies and civil society organizations. Research by GSIF Nepal and OVN has shown that communities play a crucial role in preventing the illegitimate transport of people and trafficking at the border.

Awareness at every level – individual, family, and community – is also fundamental. Such awareness should not only focus on understanding human trafficking and preventive measures, but also prepare the communities to identify their role in the reintegration of the survivors, thus avoiding stigmatisation. Furthermore, the role of media should be strategically used for broader awareness.

Since human trafficking is a global problem, common understanding and collective efforts are instrumental. The government agencies, civil society organisations, media, and recruitment agencies in the countries of origin, transit, and destination should work hand in hand in prevention along with prompt rescue, repatriation, and reintegration of survivors. International agreements like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Palermo Protocol provide valuable frameworks for cooperation. Moreover, given the complexity and diverse nature of human trafficking, investment by the state, bilateral agencies and donor agencies should be increased at different levels.

Next, people from communities with low income, low literacy levels, conflict, and disaster-affected zones, and fragmented families are more vulnerable to trafficking. In view of this reality, these communities should be properly identified and accompanied by the implementation of programs on livelihood, awareness, and empowerment.

Finally, all of the above measures must be accompanied by rigorous law enforcement. Strong enforcement of laws, as well as amendment and introduction of new policies are likely to send a clear message to the traffickers and encourage the survivors to go through the legal procedures in good faith and with confidence in the justice system.

Conclusion

As per the UNODC report (2024), 74% of traffickers work within organized crime networks. To counter such networks of organised criminals, government agencies, civil society organisation, media and communities should act together in a coordinated way. The countries of origin, transit and destination should continuously be in dialogue in creating a common understanding, identifying the contemporary challenges and set collective milestones.

While implementing country-specific programs help reduce trafficking at the country level, cross-border collaboration is as important considering the transportation/ trafficking of people across borders. Nothing seems impossible in the world that has witnessed rapid advancements in technology, exploration beyond Earth, and overall development. In the case of human trafficking, it is high time that all of us ensure willpower and strong commitment in implementing collective efforts globally and tackling human trafficking more effectively.