This project will pilot and evaluate a scalable, community-based model to increase legal access for migrant victims in rural Nepal. In partnership with People Forum, Nepal’s largest legal aid provider for migrants, returnee migrants will be trained, with support from a paralegal, to conduct door-to-door outreach and provide assistance with filing cases with the Chief District Office (CDO). A subset of cases will be randomly assigned to receive additional legal support to escalate complaints to federal authorities, including the Department of Foreign Employment (DOFE) and the Foreign Employment Tribunal (FET).
The study will use a cluster-randomised controlled trial in 75 villages in Morang District, collecting survey data from 450 migrant victims and 250 prospective migrants. Impacts on case filing, escalation to federal authorities, compensation outcomes, and changes in prospective migrant recruitment experiences will be measured. The results will inform policy and practice aimed at expanding access to justice for trafficking survivors.
