Stories of human trafficking expressed through mural art

Kathmandu, October 23

Stories of victims of human trafficking, modern day slavery and forced prostitution, are getting a new form of expression.

A group of artists led by Kiran Manandhar and the UK-based artist Martin Travers are depicting the true stories of women and girls rescued by Maiti Nepal, Child Workers in Nepal, Raksha Nepal and Circus Kathmandu on the street walls of Kathmandu Valley through mural art.

Mural art project named ‘The True Stories Mural Exhibitions’ was inaugurated in a photo exhibition organised at Siddhartha Art Gallery.

Founder and executive Director of Maiti Nepal Anuradha Koirala, inaugurated the project. She talked about the importance of visually appealing awareness campaigns. She said, “Graphic presentation of ideas and awareness messages through pictures and paintings can be far more effective than verbal messages. Hence, we need to promote and encourage campaigns like this.”

Similarly, UN Women Programme specialist to Nepal Mio Yokoto said, “Foreign employment contributes a lot to the economy of Nepal, and with this, the risk of human trafficking has increased. Thus, there is need of awareness campaigns against human trafficking.”

Mural arts can be seen in Patan Dhoka, Pulchowk, Dhobighat and Matatirtha.

The campaign is supported by UN Women Nepal, Zonta International, Art Works for Change (Oakland, USA) and Siddhartha Art Gallery.

This initiative is supported by UN Women as part of the “The Future We Want” project, which aims to create sustainable foundations for addressing the nexus between human trafficking and foreign employment.