KATHMANDU: Sarbadev Prasad Ojha, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare today revealed that the Nepalese women were living a vulnerable life and were twice as likely to suffer victimisation owing to their socioeconomic status.

“Women are doubly victimised due to persistent discrimination in our society, which is characterised by patriarchal beliefs, illiteracy and rampant poverty,” Minister Ojha said, addressing a programme organised in the capital to mark the third-national day against human trafficking.

The fact that they are ignorant about their own rights over their own body, has made them doubly victimised,” he added.

Ojha said that the Human Trafficking Control Act, 2007 has ensured the victimised women of their rehabilitation, compensation, security and self protection rights.

The Human Trafficking Control Act 2007, prohibits slavery in all its forms, including illegal transplantation of human organs .

“The Interim Constitution has also guaranteed parental property right to women,” said Ojha, appealing all the women to fight discriminations in unison.

Speaking on the same occasion, Binda Hada, Secretary, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare, informed that the ministry had established the national committee for controlling human trafficking in all the 75 districts across the nation.

“The ministry is soon going to establish rehabilitation centres in Jhapa, Parsa, Rupandehi and Banke this fiscal,” she said.

Three rehabilitation centres, one each in Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk and Kailali are already operational, shared secretary.

While considering the brutality of the problems of trafficking that cut across national geographic borders, Hada viewed that only a coordinated effort among SAARC member countries could help in controlling trafficking, including the girl-child trafficking.

Nepal has ratified the SAARC convention on human trafficking three years ago.