KATHMANDU: Federal Parliament lawmaker Pratiksha Tiwari has emphasized the need for an extensive awareness-raising initiative to counter human trafficking in Nepal.

Emphasizing the effectiveness of the program organized by the Shanti Foundation, inviting both local and federal government representatives to a common platform, she expressed her commitment to discussing and addressing the issue of changing trends of human trafficking in the Federal Parliament.

To contribute to the efforts of countering trafficking in persons, the Shanti Foundation and Kathmandu Metropolitan City organized an awareness drama event on Tuesday.

According to the National Human Rights Commission’s annual report for the year 2079, 40,300 individuals fell victim to human trafficking in Nepal, with 56.8% of them being women.

The actual number of victims is believed to be higher, given the underreporting of cases.

With the increasing use of information technology, human traffickers have been exploiting social media platforms by making false promises to coerce and exploit vulnerable individuals, including girls, boys, women, and men, to bonded labor, illegal organ transplantation, and sexual exploitation.

In this context, the awareness event aimed to sensitize individuals at risk, duty bearers, elected public officials, media workers, and those working against human trafficking.

In collaboration with Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the program included over 100 representatives from various sectors, including federal parliamentarians, National Human Rights Commission, Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau, District Police Office, Kathmandu, representatives from all the 14 local police units under Metropolitan, women’s networks, international and national non-governmental organizations, media professionals, and students from different colleges actively participated in the program.

Shanti Foundation, established and led by survivors of sex trafficking and HIV-infected women, aims to transform grief and shame into courage and power.

Founded in 2016, the Foundation works towards a successful reintegration of trafficking survivors and HIV/AIDS-affected women, youth of all genders, and children through prevention, protection, treatment, and the development of sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.