Stakeholders Urge Timely Amendment to Human Trafficking Bill

Kathmandu. Stakeholders have stressed the need for the bill to amend the Human Trafficking and Trafficking (Control) Act, 2064 BS, to be timely. Stakeholders have presented 22-point suggestions for amendment to the bill to the members of the House of Representatives at a program organized by the Women, Law and Development Forum (FWLD). FWLD Executive Director Sabin Shrestha expressed the view that further amendments are necessary to the 'Human Trafficking and Trafficking (Control) First Amendment Bill, 2083 BS' that Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Social Security Sita Kumari presented. He stated that extensive discussions should be held on various provisions from Article 1 to Article 29 to amend the law. Recalling that the current Act was enacted in 2064 BS by amending the 'Jiu Masne Bechne Act' of 2043 BS, Shrestha said, 'The amendment bill has come 20 years after that Act was enacted. It is today's need to amend it in line with international law. Because human trafficking and trafficking are not limited to within the country.' Shrestha emphasized the need to enact laws in accordance with international treaties and agreements, as Nepal is a party to the international Palermo Protocol and is now not only a source country but also a destination country. FWLD's Binod Chandra Devkota pointed out that although all three tiers of government have laws, there is a lack of clarity. 'Human trafficking and trafficking are different activities,' Devkota said, 'The time has come to think about whether to separate them.' He suggested correcting the language and terminology used in the bill. In the discussion, Member of Parliament Prem Bahadur Baidak, citing human trafficking incidents in Cambodia and Australia, expressed the view that the bill should have concrete provisions to prevent such incidents. Another MP, Sushila Dhakal Acharya, asked what could be done to provide legal assistance to citizens who are victims abroad. Other participating MPs, including Bishnumaya Pariyar, Sajda Siddiki, Yasoda Baral, Pavitra Bishwakarma, Radhika Ramtel, Sirjana Shrestha, Prabha Karki, Saraswati Lama, and Khemraj Koirala, debated the dimensions of human trafficking in Nepal. They stated that although women and children are more affected, men are also becoming victims in recent times, and the law should be enacted to cover everyone. The program, attended by more than five dozen MPs, was helpful in understanding the depth of the amendment bill and making decisions on what to add or remove from the Act, according to the participants.