NEED TO CURB GIRL TRAFFICKING STRESSED

December 9, 2002 – (Kathmandu Post) The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is working on its project to open monitoring centres to curb girl trafficking in 26 districts in Nepal under the District Development Committee offices. But again, such an initiative has many drawbacks, it is stated by Superintendent of Police, Durga Upreti.

Speaking at an interaction programme today for "Protection of Human Rights in the Campaign Against Human Trafficking", SP Upreti said,
"Due to lack of co-ordination between the neighbouring India and Nepal, the activities, especially that of girl trafficking, at the border cannot totally be lawfully curbed". She added that lack of treaty and involvement from both countries had resulted in the failure to punish the criminals.

Experts at the programme interacted over the issue that girl trafficking is not completely looked at as part of a violation of human rights. The crime of human trafficking is still not taken under a kidnapping case, they said.

Chief guest at the programme and member of National Human Rights Council (NHRC), Dr Indira Rana expressed failure of the Council for their effort in Human Rights in Nepal, compared to the South Asian counterparts.

According to her, unlike India and Thailand where NHRC is an independent body, the NHRC in Nepal is linked with politics and is not entirely an independent body, which is what is curbing their efforts in human rights in Nepal.

The two-day interaction programme is being organised by Association for Action Against Trafficking of Women and Children in Nepal.

From: http://www.mahilaweb.org/footer/news/dec_02/kathmandu_post.htm