Kathmandu, August 14 :

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking Sigma Huda, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, said she can directly take up the country’s trafficking related issues to the UN if the government officially invites her.

“I can prepare and submit a report on Nepal’s trafficking-related issues to the UN only after I get an official invitation from the government,” said Huda. She also pointed out the need to include trafficking in the list of crimes for extradition in the extradition treaty with India.

She urged the international development organisations and NGOs to “focus on the reintegration and rehabilitation of trafficking survivors through research and follow-up studies.” “Re-trafficking of survivors should be included in the anti-trafficking strategies of all concerned development partners,” she said at a programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission.

Likewise, she pointed out the need to establish linkages between trafficking, HIV and prostitution-related aspects. She further said that Nepal receives 11 per cent of “annual remittance” from women migrants, which could also include trafficked women.

Huda also met Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Urmila Aryal, government officials and discussed issues of trafficking with donors, NGOs and civil society.