Kathmandu, August 7

Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa today said Nepal had taken trafficking in persons seriously as a transnational crime.

Addressing an international conference on ‘People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime’ in Bali of Indonesia, he said, “Since thousands of Nepalis go abroad for foreign employment, we have dealt with this issue seriously to ensure that no one is trafficked on the pretext of providing them lucrative and decent job in foreign countries.”

Minister Thapa said that human trafficking had emerged as a hindrance to sustainable human development, rule of law and safety of citizens, informed the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“I am confident that this conference will facilitate in sharing information on human trafficking and transnational crimes among the law enforcement agencies,” he said. He also said that the conference would provide guidance to countries to work in the interest of migrant workers.

The two day conference (August 6 to 7) had brought together home ministers and high-level government officials from 45 countries, including Nepal, China, India and Australia. The conference dwelt on effective information and intelligence sharing, improved cooperation among regional law enforcement agencies to combat trafficking networks, increased public awareness to warn susceptible persons, enactment of strong national legislation to criminalise trafficking in persons, and provision of appropriate protection and assistance to the victims of trafficking, particularly women and children.