Biratnagar/Kathmandu, Dec 19: The government on Thursday reiterated its strong commitment to preventing human trafficking, describing it as a serious and organized crime that requires coordinated national and cross-border action.
Addressing the opening of a two-day seminar on the challenges of human trafficking and exploitation along the Nepal–India border in Biratnagar, Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Shraddha Shrestha stressed the need for closer cooperation between the two neighbouring countries to effectively curb cross-border trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a serious crime and the government is fully committed to preventing it,” Minister Shrestha said, adding that enhanced coordination between concerned agencies of Nepal and India was essential to tackle the problem.
She said the Ministry is working on strategic initiatives aimed at the timely rescue, protection and rehabilitation of trafficking survivors, while new preventive measures focusing on women and adolescent girls would be formulated and implemented in the near future.
Highlighting the root causes of trafficking, speakers at the event noted that factors such as illiteracy, unemployment and deceptive inducements continue to increase the vulnerability of adolescent girls, particularly in border areas.
Maiti Nepal Chairperson Anuradha Koirala said the organisation has been actively engaged in the fight against human trafficking for the past three decades through public awareness campaigns, rescue operations and rehabilitation support. She stressed that ending trafficking requires joint action by communities, civil society organisations and government agencies.
Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala acknowledged that human trafficking remains a major challenge in Nepal, emphasising that effective prevention is possible only through coordinated and collective efforts at all levels.
The seminar aims to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders and explore practical measures to address trafficking and exploitation along the Nepal–India border.
