PM Shah Underscores Collaboration to Build Human Trafficking-free Society

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that cooperation is necessary among all concerned bodies, including the federal, provincial, and local levels, to build a society free from human trafficking and smuggling.

Prime Minister Shah in a message of best wishes on the occasion of the 20th National Day against Human Trafficking, stated that human trafficking is a blot on human civilization and, since it is spreading worldwide as an organized crime, cooperation and coordination among relevant agencies are necessary to stop it.

The 20th National Day against Human Trafficking is being celebrated around the slogan – ‘Proper use of technology and awareness: Unity for a nation free from human trafficking.’ PM Shah mentioned that along with the development of technology, the trends, nature, forms, and destinations of human trafficking and smuggling are also changing.

He mentioned that the Government of Nepal has been making policy and institutional improvements in line with national and international commitments to prevent and control human trafficking and smuggling.

According to him, various initiatives are being carried out in coordination and cooperation with government at all three levels and all concerned agencies. According to Prime Minister Shah, a bill has been registered in Parliament to amend the Human Trafficking and Transport (Control) Act, 2007 to align it with the ‘Palermo Protocol.’

It is expected that this will make it easier to increase cooperation and coordination between countries for the international protection of the rights of victims of human trafficking and transport. Prime Minister Shah mentioned that in the process of adapting the existing legal and institutional mechanisms to the federal structure, a policy against human trafficking has been issued and implemented.

He stated that in the campaign against human trafficking, the cooperation of provincial governments, local authorities, national and international NGOs, development partners, and other concerned bodies, in addition to the federal government, is essential.

“Only through our common initiatives and joint efforts will it be possible to create a society free from human trafficking,” Prime Minister Shah mentioned in the message.

He expressed gratitude to everyone for continuously supporting, coordinating, and collaborating with the Nepal government’s campaign against human trafficking and smuggling, and urged support, cooperation, and unity with the government’s commitment. (RSS)