KATHMANDU: Incidents of human trafficking and smuggling are on the rise in Nepal, according to the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens.
In fiscal year 2024/25, Nepal Police rescued 127 victims of trafficking from various locations both inside and outside the country.
The ministry’s National Report on Human Trafficking and Transportation Control 2081, released Wednesday, stated that through rehabilitation centers in ten districts, 758 victims were rescued and reintegrated, while civil society organizations in the same districts assisted another 2,732 victims. In total, 3,490 individuals were provided rescue and rehabilitation services.
Similarly, information centers operating along the Nepal–India border and other areas, in coordination with security agencies including Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, helped identify and rescue 4,300 individuals deemed at risk of trafficking. Among them were 2,766 women (64.3%), 1,436 girls (33.4%), 15 men (0.4%), and 83 boys (1.9%).
These centers also provided counseling services to around 77,500 people on issues related to human trafficking, ministry spokesperson Chakra Bahadur Budha said.
The report further revealed that in the last fiscal year, 17 girls were trafficked and 46 girls were abducted. During the same period, 6,590 children (72% girls and 28% boys) were reported missing nationwide. With the support of Nepal Police, the Child Search Center, and the Child Helpline, about 5,831 of them were located and reunited with their families.
According to Budha, efforts are underway to draft a National Policy and Action Plan against Human Trafficking, which will be finalized after consultations with stakeholders across federal, provincial, and local levels, including civil society organizations and survivors.
Under its Community–Police Partnership Program, the ministry reported that around 24,000 partnership committees have been formed in all 753 local units. These committees work to raise awareness on issues such as violence against women, drug abuse, cybercrime, disaster risk reduction, road accidents, rape, human trafficking, suicide, child marriage, polygamy, and dowry practices.
The ministry also said it is running school outreach initiatives, social crime reduction campaigns, community-police sports events, and fire safety awareness programs nationwide.
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