Human trafficking in Far West Nepal: A persistent issue

Dhangadhi - Despite ongoing efforts, the incidence of human trafficking remains a critical issue in the Far West region of Nepal.

Maiti Nepal, an organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking, has been at the forefront of rescuing women and children at risk of being trafficked from border crossings connected to this region. Over the past four years, Maiti Nepal Dhangadhi has successfully rescued 380 women.

In the financial year 2077/78 alone, they rescued 76 women, including 2 from India. The following year, 2078/79, saw 104 women rescued. This was followed by 96 women in 2079/80, and 104 women again in 2080/81. Alarmingly, children have also fallen victim to trafficking.

In the same four-year period, Maiti Nepal Dhangadhi rescued 173 children. In 2077/78, they rescued 33 children, including 2 from India. The numbers increased to 53 in 2078/79, 45 (including one from India) in 2079/80, and 42 in 2080/81. Shiv Charan Chaudhary, coordinator of Maiti Nepal Dhangadhi, highlighted that recently, certain individuals have become increasingly active in human trafficking.

These traffickers often lure individuals with promises of work in India. Social media platforms like Facebook, Imo, and Viber have become tools for traffickers to entice women and children by forming fake romantic relationships and promising marriage, only to sell them once they cross the border.

Chaudhary points out that poverty and unemployment are significant factors making women and children vulnerable to trafficking. However, Senior Superintendent of Police Delhiraj Bist of the Far West Province Police Office in Dhangadhi noted a recent decrease in human trafficking incidents.

In the past three years, 25 human trafficking cases have been registered in the Far West. According to statistics from the Provincial Police Office Dhangadhi, 5 cases were registered in 2078/79, 12 in 2079/80, and 8 in 2080/81.

The Human Trafficking and Trafficking Act 2064 stipulates imprisonment for up to 3 years and a fine of up to 30,000 NPR for those convicted of trafficking offenses.