World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
29 July 2025On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we stand for every child’s right to safety and dignity. In Nepal, thousands of girls and children remain at risk of trafficking and exploitation. Plan International Nepal is working to protect them, empowering communities, strengthening systems, and promoting safe futures where every girl can grow up free from fear.
Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a time to reflect on the ongoing crisis of human trafficking and recommit to collective action for prevention and protection. In Nepal, trafficking remains a deep-rooted issue, especially for women and children from poor and marginalised communities. On this important day, we are highlighting our work through the PROTECT and Surkshya projects to combat trafficking and promote safe migration.
Trafficking in Nepal: Where do we stand?
Children and girls in Nepal remain at high risk of trafficking. With poverty, limited opportunities, and an open border with India, thousands fall into the hands of traffickers each year. It’s estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 women and girls are trafficked to India annually. In 2018 alone, 5,000 children were among the 35,000 trafficked individuals, as reported by the National Human Rights Commission.
Girls are particularly vulnerable, targeted for sexual exploitation, child labour, or forced early marriage. Yet, justice remains out of reach for most survivors. Despite growing awareness, formal reports are alarmingly low, with just 270 police cases and 1,179 court cases between 2019 and 2021.
The threat is evolving, online exploitation, foreign job scams, and forced labour have surged post-COVID. But weak detection systems and limited survivor support mean many cases still go unreported and unaddressed.
PROTECT project
To tackle this issue, we implemented the PROTECT project (2019–2023) in high-risk districts: Banke, Makwanpur, and Sunsari. The project:
- Reached over 13,200 people, including 2,300 children, with safe migration and anti-trafficking awareness.
- Mobilised 370 youth ambassadors who led 968 community events and helped revive local anti-trafficking committees.
- Rescued over 800 trafficked individuals, including 41 women, through cross-border coordination.
- Provided skills training and seed funds to more than 50 survivors for dignified reintegration.
- The project also introduced the Maya chatbot on Facebook Messenger to educate young people through stories, quizzes, and interactive tools.
Surakshya project
Currently, our Surakshya project is active in Bardiya, reinforcing local mechanisms to prevent trafficking at the grassroots level. Key initiatives include:
- Bicycle distribution to 31 girls from remote areas in Rajapur Municipality, improving school access and reducing vulnerability to trafficking.
- Training for Human Trafficking Control Committees, including police, teachers, and officials, to build knowledge on reporting and referrals.
- Border surveillance training to equip local duty bearers, women’s groups, and community leaders to monitor and intervene at critical points.
- Training for 20 youth (15 girls, 5 boys) to build skills in identifying and reporting trafficking cases. Facilitated by local leaders.
- Essential tools provided to a border-based information booth to enhance its role as a referral hub for trafficking survivors, in collaboration with local authorities.
- A digital display board installed at the District Administration Office to spread awareness on safe migration and trafficking prevention through continuous messaging and emergency contacts.
Nepal is reviewing its Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act to align with international norms. Proposed changes include broader definitions, compensation provisions, and stronger cross-border enforcement. Yet, Nepal remains on the Tier 2 Watch List, signalling the need for stronger implementation and survivor support.
Call to action
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to building a trafficking-free Nepal. Through youth leadership, community mobilisation, safe migration education, and strong local systems, change is not only possible, it’s already underway.
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