Biratnagar, Dec 19: Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Shraddha Shrestha has stated that the government is fully cognizant of the urgency of preventing human trafficking, describing it as a serious and heinous crime.
Addressing the inauguration of a two-day seminar jointly organized by the Ministry and Maiti Nepal in Biratnagar on Thursday evening, themed “Challenges of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in the Nepal–India Border Area,” Minister Shrestha emphasized the need for strengthened coordination and collaboration among relevant agencies of both countries to effectively curb such criminal activities.
She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to implementing strategic initiatives focused on the timely rescue, protection, and rehabilitation of trafficking survivors. The Minister further stated that concrete and immediate measures would be formulated and enforced to prevent the trafficking of women and girls.
Speaking on the occasion, Anuradha Koirala, Chairperson of Maiti Nepal, said the organization has been actively engaged in combating human trafficking for the past three decades through awareness campaigns, as well as rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration efforts.
She noted that the persistent trafficking of adolescent girls—driven by factors such as illiteracy, unemployment, and deceptive inducements—demands sustained cooperation and coordination among communities, civil society organizations, and government institutions.
Similarly, Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala acknowledged that human trafficking remains a major challenge in Nepal, stressing that its prevention is possible only through collective and coordinated efforts. #nepal #trafficking
