Human trafficking in Nepal is no longer confined to physical borders. Increasingly driven by social media, technology and online fraud, the crime is taking new forms, prompting calls for a stronger legal framework as an estimated 35,000 people fall victim to trafficking and smuggling networks each year.
Stakeholders made the call on Thursday during an interaction organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) in Kathmandu to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, expressing hope that the proposed first amendment bill on human trafficking and transportation will address emerging forms of trafficking and strengthen law enforcement.
Presenting a paper on the current state of human trafficking, Joint Attorney General Som Kanta Bhandari outlined changing trafficking patterns, the growing role of technology, prosecution challenges and areas where the law requires reform.
Citing a National Human Rights Commission study, speakers said around 35,000 people become victims of human trafficking and smuggling each year. They warned that organized criminal networks are increasingly exploiting social media, digital platforms and visit visas to lure Nepalis into fraud, forced labour and other forms of exploitation.
FWLD Executive Director Sabin Shrestha said the proposed amendment comes at a crucial time, as the government is preparing to table nine bills in Parliament, including the human trafficking amendment bill. He expressed confidence that the revised law would better address the evolving nature of trafficking and organized fraud.
Highlighting the growing scale of technology-enabled crime, social activist Anil Ranghuvanshi said around 35,000 Nepalis fell victim to online scams and organized fraud last year alone. Although such crimes originate from 77 countries, he said 74 percent are linked to Southeast Asia, involving billions of dollars in illicit financial transactions.
He also pointed to the sharp rise in the number of Nepalis travelling to Cambodia—from 101 in 2021 to 9,676 in 2025. While 422 victims have been rescued, only a handful of cases have reached the courts, he said, adding that many victims were information technology professionals.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Rajendra Prasad Adhikari said the proposed amendment would include provisions to address cross-border crimes, provide clearer legal definitions and establish a one-door legal assistance system. He added that the government aims to draft 165 laws this year.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security Basant Prasad Panthi said recent policy reforms have created a favourable environment for strengthening anti-trafficking legislation.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rewati Raman Pokharel of the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau said the existing law is not sufficiently investigation-friendly and called for clearer legal provisions to help investigators tackle crimes committed through technology and social media.
The programme, chaired by FWLD President Gita Aryal, also heard calls from Dechen Lama and social activist Nanimaya Thapa to ensure the amended law addresses emerging forms of trafficking, including egg trafficking and skin trafficking. They also stressed the need to raise public awareness by incorporating anti-trafficking education into school curricula.
