Government is committed towards legal reforms to curb human trafficking, Minister Sah says

Kathmandu: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi on Wednesday stressed on the need to urgently reform trafficking laws in line with Palermo Protocol.

Speaking at a discussion program organized by Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), he said: “Government and non-government stakeholders should come together to defeat the growing challenges of human trafficking. The government expresses its strong commitment towards combating and uprooting the trafficking problem in all its manifestations.”

The ministry is fully aware about Nepal’s obligation with regard to domestication in the current legislation that has remained delayed, he said. “We are committed to initiate the process of reforms without further delay. Nepal must update and strengthen its legal framework to combat human trafficking.”

In the event, Gita Devi Aryal, president of FWLD, highlighted the need to amend human trafficking laws to fully enforce Palermo Protocol in Nepal. “Nepal needs to make changes to several of its laws to comply with the Palermo Protocol to protect its citizens from human trafficking and ensure their human rights,” she said.The government needs to make necessary changes in prevailing laws to fully enforce the Palermo protocol, said Sabin Shrestha, an advocate affiliated with FWLD. “Legal reforms should not be viewed just as a formality. It is a crucial step toward ensuring that Nepalis will be safeguarded from being trafficked and ensuring their rights.”

According to rights activists, Nepal as a country that sends its citizens to work abroad and a country that has been seen as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, can benefit from its enforcement.

According to him, there are at least nine laws such as Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2008, Foreign Employment Act, 2007, Immigration Act 1992, Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 2000, Labor Act, 2017, Organized Crime Prevention Act, among others, need to be amended in line with the protocol.