Demand to amend Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act

Kathmandu, Aug 18: Stakeholders are demanding that the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2064 be amended according to the international convention 'Palermo Protocol'.     

The United Nations issued the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to jointly address transnational organized crime. The 'Palermo Protocol' which includes three 'Protocols', was approved by Nepal on 16 June 2020.     

At today's meeting of the Women and Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Alliance Against Trafficking in Women and Children in Nepal (AATWIN) presented the amendments to the Act.     

Binu Maya Gurung, executive director of the AATWIN, said that the definition of the act is narrower. According to her, in the Act, the physical trafficking of women has been narrowed down to prostitution.     

As mentioned in the 'Palermo Protocol', she says that labour exploitation should also be addressed. She further mentioned that there is a need to amend the law on issues such as victim's privacy, child rights, and child abuse.     

In the meeting, the Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chakra Prasad Adhikari said that the ways of human trafficking are changing with time and everyone, including the state and the police, is responsible for reducing it.     

The members of the committee suggested measures to control human trafficking. Most of the MPs were of the opinion that if the border area is tightened, trafficking can be reduced to a large extent. Member of Parliament Javeda Khatun said that India is the most vulnerable region of human trafficking and suggested that monitoring of CCTV and identity cards should be mandatory for control. Similarly, MP Roshan Karki said that the Ministry of Home Affairs should insist on tightening the borders.     

MP Ishwar Bahadur Rijal said that besides strengthening the control mechanism, the state should be ready to create public awareness and employment.(RSS)