Suggestions to Amend 22 Clauses in the Human Trafficking Control Amendment Bill

22 Shrawan, Kathmandu – Stakeholders have stressed that the bill to amend the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 must be timely and appropriate.

Women, Law and Development Forum (FWLD) organized a discussion with members of the House of Representatives regarding the bill. Participants stated that although many provisions have been included in the amendment bill, further refinements could enhance its relevance to current needs.

Advocate Savin Shrestha, Executive Director of FWLD, stated that adding 22 more amendments to the ‘Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) First Amendment Bill 2083,’ presented in the House of Representatives on Friday, would make it more timely.

During the program, Shrestha recommended comprehensive discussions and amendments on provisions in several sections including Clause 1 Subclause (3), Clauses 2, 4, 5, 8 (a), 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20 (a), 22, 23, 23 (a), 23 (b), 25, 26, 27, 27 (a), 27 (b), and 29 (a).

Given the evolving nature of human trafficking and transportation, Shrestha advised parliamentarians to pay close attention during lawmaking. The 2043 BS legislation, originally called the Flesh Trade Act, was revised into the Human Trafficking and Transportation Act in 2064 BS. Reflecting on the past, he said, ‘It has been 20 years since the original act was passed. The amendment bill must align with international laws because human trafficking and transportation are no longer confined within domestic borders.’

According to Nepal Parlamoportal, Nepal is not only a source country but also a destination country for human trafficking. Therefore, Shrestha emphasized that the amendment bill should also consider international treaties and agreements.

Explaining the purpose of the discussion, FWLD’s Vinodchandra Devkota noted that despite the Human Trafficking and Transportation Act being in place across three levels of government, clarity is lacking. He also raised queries on whether trafficking and transportation are distinct activities and how to differentiate them.

During the event, Member of Parliament Prem Bahadur Vayyak shared instances of human trafficking in Cambodia and Australia. He sought suggestions on what provisions could be included in this bill to prevent such incidents from recurring. MP Sushila Dhakal Acharya requested ideas on how to provide legal assistance to victims living abroad.

Parliamentarians Vishnumaya Pariyar, Sajda Siddiqui, Yasoda Baral, Pavitra Bishwakarma, Radhika Ramtel, Sirjana Shrestha, Prabha Karki, Saraswati Lama, and Khemraj Koirala discussed various dimensions of human trafficking and transportation in Nepal. They highlighted that children and women are the most vulnerable but also emphasized that recently men have become affected, calling for inclusive legislation that covers all groups.