Nepal victims in danger of falling victims to traffickers

While we all pray for the well-being of those affected by one of the worst natural disasters in the recent times in Nepal, we assume that the worse is over. However, many NGOs believe that the vulnerable state of the women and children in the country, will give rise to trafficking, which is already a huge problem in Nepal. Being one of the most backward countries economically, many young citizens fall for false promises of getting jobs and end up in different parts of the world as slaves.

A report by GVnet.com states that annually 10,000 to 15,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked to India and 7,500 children are trafficked domestically; for commercial sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude. According to UNODC, the victims of these heinous crimes are trafficked within Nepal, to India, the Middle East, Malaysia and are forced to become prostitutes, domestic servants, beggars, factory workers, mine workers, circus performers, child soldiers, and others. About 5,000-10,000 women and girls trafficked to India alone.

For year-old Yadhu making bricks with moulds.
Picture By: RFI

According to a report by Global Dispatch.com, Sunita Danuwar, director of a NGO in Kathmandu; said, “This is the time when the brokers go in the name of relief to kidnap or lure women. We are distributing assistance to make people aware that someone might come to lure them. We are getting reports of pretending to go for rescuing and looking at people.” A local healthworker, Rashmita Shashtra, added: “People here are now desperate and will take any chance. There are spotters in the villages who convince family members and local brokers who do the deal. We know who they are.”

Kamal Thapa Chettri from the trafficking office at Nepal's Human Rights Commission, further revealed that these trafficking agents could also be posing as aid workers, according to a report by IBN Live. But the police, NGOs and other governmental organizations are taking the necessary precautions and safety measures to ensure the victims remain secure from these antoi-social elements and will hopefully save the victims from any further catastrophes.

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