Yoko Kimura, Associate Expert at the International Organisation for Migration, on Friday stressed that national and international stakeholders should work together with the Government of Nepal to formulate and implement safe migration policy.

Speaking at a press conference on ‘Effects and Needs after Nepal Earthquake in Context of Human Trafficking and Forced or Unsafe Migration’ in the capital, Kimura said, “Women, girls and young boys of the worst affected districts are at risk of unsafe migration and trafficking for the sexual exploitation, organ trading and labour profiteering in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of April 25.”

She highlighted that strong awareness policy, programmes and materials needed to be developed to keep naive children, women and girls of remote Nepal to be updated for the safety and preventative measures were must against the potential human traffickers and middleman.
Felix Neuhaus, Director, Regional Office South Asia of Arbeiterwohlfahrt International, said awareness materials have been developed with the joint initiative of Maiti Nepal, Paurakhi Nepal and IoM to address and mitigate unsafe migration including human trafficking after the quake.

According to him, the joint initiations have developed 300,000 brochures, including promotion of help lines, 30,000 stickers, 500 flex banners and 20 hoarding boards. “These public awareness materials will be installed and pasted on vehicles, schools, border areas, bus parks and other public places to inform the children, women and victims about the trafficking and unsafe migration,” he said.

He added that the joint venture had trained the students, youths and elderly in the communities to monitor any doubtful traffickers creeping in their villages. “We have motivated people to communicate with each other to address personal serious concerns to curb the trafficking process in the local level,” he said.

Bishwa Ram Khadka, Director, Maiti Nepal, informed that 395 girls and women were rescued thorough its vigilance mechanisms at border checkpoints and strategic locations from April 25 to June 23.

“The disaster has misplaced many women and children in more vulnerable positions to be afflicted with sexual violence, organ trading and trafficking,” he said. “The imprisoned traffickers are at large from the destroyed prisons since the quake. The jailbirds on the run may again target the survived women and girls for trafficking and unsafe migration,” he warned.
To curb trafficking, Maiti Nepal said it is working together with Nepal Police by setting 12 checkpoints along the Nepal-India border.

Published on: 27 June 2015 | The Himalayan Times