NGOs working for women’s rights have made in a startling revelation.

They say 295 women from the midwestern region, who were taken to gulf countries, are out of contact. Most of them were suspected to have been sold off. According to Banke coordinator of Maiti Nepal Keshab Koirala, 295 women are either missing in India or in gulf countries. It’s hard to rescue those women who are sold off in gulf countries as there are no networks of women’s organisations, he said, adding that only one woman from the Gulf and six from India were rescued so far. Women activists say lack of initiatives on the part of the government is hampering rescue efforts. Women Development Officer Shova Shah said organisations working against women trafficking should move ahead together to discourage such a crime. Meanwhile, the district committee against human trafficking took out a rally on the occasion of National Anti-Trafficking Day in Banke, where rights activists and labourers participated.

Published on: 7 September 2011 | The Kathmandu Post