Published in The Himalayan on Sep. 06 ::
A recently released report of the National Human Rights Commissions titled Trafficking in persons especially on women and children in Nepal, which is based on the data of various governmental and non-governmental organisations, says that majority of women and children are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and entertainment sectors.
Especially women are being trafficked to India, Gulf countries, Khasa, Tibet and Bangladesh among others. Almost half of the trafficking survivors were aged between 16 and 25.
According to the report, 29,000 people were trafficked or attempted to be trafficked (16,000 were attempted to traffic, 13,000 were trafficked) in 2012-13 against 11,500 in 2011. The Global Slavery Index 2013 estimated that at least 250,000 to 270,000 Nepalis were enslaved, of which at least 6,250 to 6,750 were trafficked.
The report shows the total number of missing children recorded in 2012-13 was 1,453.
The report also points that cross-border trafficking of children for labour exploitation appears especially in circus performance, agriculture, manufacturing and construction work while internal trafficking of children appears in embroidering, domestic work, brick kilns among others.
Likewise, internal trafficking phenomena is concerned with entertainment sector, namely, dance, cabin restaurants and massage parlours in the country.
The report further reveals that female workers in the entertainment sectors faced problems from owners, clients, police and co-workers.
Smuggling of girls to South Korea for marriage is also an emerging trafficking phenomenon in the country.
According to the NHRC Observation and Monitoring Report, 2013, nearly 1,000 female migrants were lured into going to South Korea via marriage bureau.
According to the report, only 144 cases of trafficking were reported to police in 2012-13.
Study suggests that large number of cases go unreported mainly due to lack of criminal justice knowledge, lack of trust in police, lack of security to the victims and witness, lack of knowledge of service delivery mechanism and on top of these due to fear, threat, stigma attached and lack of resources.
According to the report, as there is no household survey regarding human trafficking , government agencies have to depend on various NGOs and INGOs to get the statistics. The report also revealed the fact that NGOs receive 98 per cent financial supports from donor agencies to conduct the studies.
Numbing numbers
• 13,000 people were trafficked and 16,000 people were attempted to be trafficked in 2012-13
• The Global Slavery Index 2013 estimates that at least 250,000 to 270,000 Nepalis were enslaved, of which at least 6,250 to 6,750 were trafficked
• Majority of women and children are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, labour exploitation and entertainment sectors
• Women are being trafficked to India, Gulf countries, Khasa, Tibet and Bangladesh
• Almost half of the trafficking survivors were aged between 16 and 25
Source: http://goo.gl/JDBBLK