2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)8In June, the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of the Nepal Police25The most wanted suspect, Savitridevi Malaha, is suspected of trafficking as many as 1,000 women out of the country.arrestThe first time I did this, I was in the middle of the world. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Human trafficking is taking place in many countries around the world, but Nepal is "theMost profitable trafficking business marketIt is considered to be one of the "best" places to live, and human trafficking occurs daily.2020Since 2006, the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus infection has been increasing. So why is human trafficking so rampant in Nepal? This article looks at the background and efforts to solve the problem.

Human trafficking (image) (Photo: Imagens Evangélicas / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a serious crime and one of the worst human rights violations. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), it is "the acquisition, transportation, delivery, forcing to work, or enslavement of persons by coercive means, violence, threats, kidnapping, fraud, or taking advantage of their vulnerable position, for the purpose of exploiting them."Definition.The term "trafficking in persons" includes not only the "buying and selling" of human beings, treating them as if they were objects, but also the subsequent enslavement of the trafficked people. In other words, human trafficking includes not only the "buying and selling" of human beings, treating them as if they were objects, but also the subsequent enslavement of the trafficked people (*1). Human trafficking and other forms of slavery areUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)It has been recognized as a serious violation of human rights under various conventions, including

Methods of exploitation vary.factory workand ... andfishing (industry)The most common forms of forced labor include forced labor in construction, forced domestic labor, child soldiers, organ donation, and forced marriage. Among these, the most frequent victims aresexual exploitationThe first is.

sexual exploitationis the coercion of prostitution, pornography, and stripping, the main victims of which are girls and adult women. Because only a small percentage of trafficking is caught regardless of the method of exploitation, there are many uncertainties and it is difficult to accurately determine the actual situation, but according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation is50%It is also said thatsexual exploitationIn addition to being a serious violation of human rights against the will of the individual, the risk of being assaulted by the buyer or brothel guest, contracting a sexually transmitted disease through sexual intercourse in an unsanitary environment, or developing an unwanted pregnancy is extremely high. They are also at risk of developing mental disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hard labor (image) (Photo: ILO Asia-Pacific / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Why is this trafficking of people taking place in so many countries around the world? The main cause is extreme poverty. In poor areas, the non-employment rate is extremely high, and many people have extremely low incomes and are in precarious situations. Human traffickers, or so-called "brokers," target such areas, offering needy people "good jobs" and "life will be easier if you go to the city.greetThe first is the "I" in "I". Others were sold in exchange for debt repayment anddebt slaveIn some cases, this is the case. In addition, families who have become destitute and unable to make ends meet, for example, parents dare to send their children away in the hope that their children will have a better life than they do now.case (e.g. receptacle, condition, event, legal action, letter style, etc.)There are also In most cases, the victims are unaware that they are being trafficked. However, there are some who sell their children to make ends meet, even though they know they are being trafficked.familyalso exist.

This "trafficking business" has accelerated with globalization, and much of it now crosses borders. Human trafficking follows drug and arms trafficking.third (in a series)The annual sales of the company's products are said to be the most profitable criminal activity in the world.US$150 billionThe trafficking of people is taking place in both high-income and low-income countries. Human trafficking occurs in both high-income and low-income countries, with Nepal being "theMost profitable marketsIt is said to be one of the "one of the

Human Trafficking "Demon's Hand" Strikes Nepal

Nepal is a small South Asian country bordering India and China, with a population of29.7 millionThe region is home to a number of high peaks over 8,000 meters in height. Located in the heart of the Himalayas, with several high peaks over 8,000 metersmountain countryThe country's population of about 1.4 million is Approximately 1.4 million people live in the capital city of Kathmandu, but most of the rest live in mountain villages. The main industry accounts for 34% of the gross domestic product (GDP)agricultureand it is also said that 681 tp3t of the population is engaged in agriculture.

There are also many migrant workers working outside of Nepal, with about 3.5 million people, or about 141 TP3T of the population, working outside the country for employment as of 2019. In the same year, about 501 TP3T of all Nepalese households had at least one member of the family working as a migrant worker or had experienced migrant work in the past.dataNepal's economy is also heavily dependent on remittances from such migrant workers. Furthermore, Nepal's economy is heavily dependent on remittances from such migrant workers, and remittance receipts in 2020 are expected to be as much as 10% of GDP.Approx. 24%hit the bull's-eyeApprox. 8.1 billion U.S. dollarsThe first time the company was in

Nepal has a serious poverty problem. The percentage of people living below the "ethical poverty line" (US$7.4 per day) (*2), which indicates whether the minimum standard of living, including food, clothing, and shelter, is guaranteed, is as follows83%This is considered to be the case. This means that the majority of Nepalese citizens are not living at the minimum standard of living. The index measures the level of development of each country in three aspects: health, education, and income.human development indexNepal's position in the world ranking of the world's most important countries is very low, 142nd out of 189 countries as of 2020.

As noted above, human trafficking is rampant in Nepal. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal reports that in 2018, the only reported victims of human trafficking wereApprox. 35,000 peopleThe number of victims was up to of the victims.destination (of shipment)are as diverse as within Nepal, Asia, including India, Malaysia, and Middle Eastern countries, and Sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. The main sources of human trafficking in NepalObjective.include sexual exploitation, forced labor, and organ donation.

Similar to global trends, sexual exploitation is the most prevalent type of victimization in Nepal, with trafficking victims accounting for about70%are considered to be girls or adult women. Of the aforementioned approximately 35,000 trafficking victims in 2018, only confirmedApprox. 20,000were women. However, this is only a small portion of the total number of victims, and the exact number of victims is not known. In particular, it is reported that many cases are transported from Nepal to India, and every day54 peopleThe data also show that girls and adult women in the U.S. are sold to India.

Women sold into brothels, both inside and outside Nepal, spend a dayseveral dozen peopleThe number of cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases is also high.manyThere are also brothels where refusal to comply with the owner's or customer's demands is met with violent assaults. In addition, many brothels are in collusion with the mafia and other gangs, and are constantly on the run.surveillanceIn some cases, the brothel owner takes over the debt. In some cases, the brothel buyers take over their debts, and the girls are forced to work as debt slaves to pay them off, making it impossible for them to escape even if they wanted to.circumstancesThere are also Many Nepalese women are still subjected to the degrading conditions of brothels. And it is not only women who are victims. About 301 TP3T of the victimsJuvenile and adult maleWe must not forget that they are also victims of sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse.

In Nepal, domestic labor and forced labor have also been reported.numerousExamples of forced labor include factory work, mine labor, and work in brick kilns and the embroidered textile industry.

A Nepalese girl taking care of a goat (Photo: ILO Asia-Pacific / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Why does human trafficking occur in Nepal?

Why is human trafficking so widespread in Nepal? One internal factor is the aforementioned extreme poverty.caste system(*3) and other practices may also have contributed to the disparity. However, what drove it was the 2015 outbreak of theNepal EarthquakeThe earthquake, which was The 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed approximately 9,000 people and affected 5.6 million people. The earthquake severely affected the already fragile infrastructure and further increased poverty. In fact, Nepalese people rescued near the Nepal-India borderNumber of victims of human traffickingjumped from 33 in 2014, before the earthquake, to 336 in 2015, after the earthquake, and continued to increase to 501 in 2016 and 607 in 2017.

Another internal factor is the vulnerability of women's position. In Nepal, men have priority access to education, work or training in various fields, while women's social status is very lowtrendin the country. There are no provisions in the Nepalese Constitution that protect women, such as equal pay for equal work, and discrimination and violence still remain. The dowry (marriage dowry) system (*4) andpatriarchal authorityand other practices persist, and these also contribute to gender discrimination. As a result, many women are unable to find stable jobs becausestatus quoThe Nepalese women in this situation want to escape and get a job, and are therefore deceived by brokers. Nepalese women in this situation wish to escape and get a job, and are therefore deceived by brokers.

Also, a woman rescued from a brothel40%The sad reality is that these women are unable to receive rehabilitation or other support to reintegrate into society, and are further shunned by their families and communities, forcing them to return to prostitution. Furthermore, children born to sex trafficked women are likely to become victims of child abuse and violence.highIt is also said that adult women and girls in Nepal cannot easily escape from this vicious cycle.

Damage from the Nepal earthquake (Photo: United Nations Development Programme / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Let us then look at external factors. The first factor to mention would be the low "value" or "price" given in the "market" of trafficking. The exact value of trafficking victims around the world is unknown,Nationality and ageThe global average transaction price is said to vary depending on theUS$90supposing that ...researcherEven US$90 is a low price, but in the past Nepal has had only a few4 U.S. dollarsIn one case, a Nepalese man was sold at a price of $3,000. This low price is probably the reason why Nepalese are targeted.

Another reason why Nepalese are trafficked to India, among others, is the Nepal-India disparity. This disparity can also be one of the factors contributing to the low "price" of Nepalese: in 2019, Nepal's GDP per capita wasUS$1,194whereas India is2,100 U.S. dollarsand the difference is stark. Nepal is also heavily dependent on India economically; in 2018-19economic surveyAccording to the "The World Bank", India accounts for 641 TP3T of Nepal's total trade volume, and when it comes to oil supply, Nepal depends on India for almost 1001 TP3T of its oil. In addition, Nepal's currency, the Nepalese rupee, is exchanged against the Indian rupee.fixationThe number of people who are trafficked to India for work is increasing every year. In addition, people who travel to India not as traffickers, but simply for work, areMore than 520,000The data also show that Nepal's economy would not be able to survive without India. Thus, without India, Nepal's economy would beincorruptibleIt is no exaggeration to say that this is the case. As long as this disparity and dependence does not disappear, there will be no end to the number of people who entrust themselves to brokers in the hope of obtaining jobs.

In addition, the Nepal-Indiaopen borders policyis probably another factor that makes the Nepal-India border one of the most frequently used trafficking routes. Open borders allow both Nepalese and Indian citizens to cross the border without the need for visas or passports. It was established in the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Nepal and India to grant equal rights to the citizens of both countries. Thisopen borders policyWhile the "New York City" and "New York State" allow citizens of both countries to own property, work, and live in both countries, they also allow trafficking in persons and other forms of drug and arms smuggling to take place in both countries.breeding groundThe reality is that this would also allow terrorist criminals to enter the area.

People leaving the country to work (Photo: International Labour Organization ILO / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

India is not the only destination for trafficked Nepalese. However, no matter which country the trafficked persons are transported to, they must pass through India once.numerousWhy is that? Why is that? The cause lies in Nepal's own regulations. Nepal has strict regulations against women working outside the country.regulationand established a "work permit" for women under the age of 40 to work in Gulf and African countries without permission from their guardians and local government, among other things.restrictionThis is the case. These regulations make it difficult to traffick women directly from Nepal to other countries. India, which is not subject to these regulations due to its open border policy, is used as a loophole.

Another reason why Nepalese are trafficked to India, among others, is the demand for them in India. Particularly prominent within India is the demand for sexuality and organs. The demand for Nepalese women in Indian brothels ishighIt is said that one of the reasons for this is the stereotyping of Nepalese women. in Indian brothels regarding the skin color and other aspects of Nepalese women.stereotypeis widespread, and this is believed to have contributed to the increase in demand. In fact, referring to Nepal's indigenous Tamang people, brothels discriminate against them as a "very well-selling commodity," etc.representationSometimes they are made to do the following.

Meanwhile, demand for organs is also unique to India. Living kidney transplants are second only to the U.S.No. 2 in the worldIn India, where the demand for organs, especially kidneys, is significant, with about 220,000 people in the country, where it is being implemented on the scale ofkidney transplantIt is estimated that they are in need of Therefore, trafficking for the purpose of organ donation is also prominent. Thus, various factors, including Nepal's internal factors and India's background, have combined to make Nepalese people prey to traffickers.

Initiatives and issues to be resolved

Is there any movement toward a solution to this problem of human trafficking? First, let us look at the efforts of the Nepalese government. The government has concluded various treaties in an effort to resolve the issue. Nepal has signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and 11 other different women's rights and healthpactIt has signed and ratified the In addition to treaties, the country has also enacted legislation. In 2007, under pressure from national and international NGO groups, the Law on Human Trafficking and Transportation Management (HTTCA(a).enactmentand recognized human trafficking as a "crime," and further stipulated that the Nepalese government would establish rehabilitation centers and funds for victims. In fact, it is now located in the capital city of Kathmandu and districts such as Jhapa and Chitwan.Rehabilitation Centeris being built.

Unfortunately, however, treaties and laws are not very effective. There are three possible factors. The first is that they are not binding. For example,HTTCAThe definition of crimes in the Act is limited. domestic and cross-border "trafficking" of persons and slavery are prohibited, but even the internment and transportation of persons for the purpose of forced labor isNot prohibited.The two definitions are very different from those of UNICEF, which were introduced at the beginning of this report. It is also very different from the UNICEF definition introduced at the beginning of this paper. The legal system is still insufficient to make it binding.

Police officers standing at the border (Photo: Bo Jayatilaka / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

The second factor is the inability to keep up with detection. This is due to multiple systemic factors such as too many cases, limited budget and time available to the police for investigations, and a lack of investigators trained in trafficking detection.question (e.g. on a test)There is a The personnel problem is quiteseriousThe Nepalese police are conducting checkpoints at the Nepal-India border, but they are unable to patrol the entire border, which is approximately 1,770 kilometers long, on a daily basis. In addition, after 2020, due to the spread of the new coronavirus infectionlockdownThe detection has been further delayed by the three-month closure of the courts due to the "Mere Old Man" and by travel restrictions that have made victim statements and testimonies difficult to obtain. In addition, brokers have a wide network around the world and use the Internet to conduct transactions at high speedstracking (e.g. in computer graphics)The situation is also difficult to identify due to the difficulty of As technology has advanced, so have the methods of buying, selling, and transporting, factors that make detection more difficult.

A third factor is that victims do not report their victimization. In some cases, women cry themselves to sleep after being sexually assaulted.numerousThe reason for this is that One reason for this is the deep-seated beliefs and cultural practices that are widespread in Nepal's patriarchal society. Many family members of victims view it as shameful to report sex trafficking and refuse to go public. In other cases, they are kept in the dark by brokers. Brokers tell the victim's familyhush moneyThe poor families may accept the bribes as a way to get the money. Another factor that prevents victims from reporting their crimes is a lack of knowledge about human trafficking. Lack of education, especially in rural areas, contributes to this lack of knowledge.35%They are unable to gather information because they only have access to the Internet. Therefore, many people do not even know that they have the right to sue. In addition, although the government conducts awareness campaigns, they are not very effective, and even some government officials and police are not aware of the existence of laws such as the HTTCA.I don't knowAbout.

Thus, a vicious cycle is taking place in Nepal, in which slow action is taken to uncover traffickers, which in turn accelerates trafficking even further. Although the Nepalese government is making efforts to eradicate human trafficking, these efforts are still insufficient and more will be needed in the future.

On the other hand, there are also NGO groups that are dedicated to the issue of human trafficking. For example,Maiti Nepalhas prevented the trafficking of 1,000 to 3,000 women and girls each year by conducting its own border checkpoints. They also provide victim protection, legal assistance, vocational training, and literacy education. Other.Rescue Foundationand there are a number of organizations working on the issue of human trafficking across borders and around the world, conducting rescue and support activities for victims. With the cooperation of these NGOs, each year1,000 personsNearby victims have been rescued from India. However, on 1tens of thousandsIt is said that as many as 1,000 people pass through the Nepal-India border, and it is difficult to find and rescue all of them.

Nepalese women from debt-slave families receive education (Photo: ILO Asia-Pacific / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

still no clue

So far, we have looked at the background of the human trafficking problem in Nepal. The first thing that is needed to solve the problem is institutional reform of the government and police. As pointed out earlier, the current situation is not conducive to the detection of traffickers, and Nepal has become a hotbed of human trafficking. This vicious cycle is one of the factors preventing a solution. While the rescue and rehabilitation of victims is of course important and must be addressed further, it will be impossible to eradicate human trafficking unless the government and police systems are also improved.

On the other hand, in recent years there has been a movement to remove restrictions on Nepalese women working outside the country.UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)as the regulation is discriminatory and discourages women from leaving the country,2018from itsabolitionThey are seeking to do so. But will the elimination of such restrictions reduce human trafficking? While it could lead to women actively moving out of the country, it could also encourage trafficking that does not go through India. The solution will not be a simple one.

Above all, in order to fundamentally solve the problem of human trafficking in Nepal, it is essential to resolve poverty and inequality. However, in addition to inadequate infrastructure, Nepal's historical and cultural practices, such as the caste system and patriarchal system, are still deeply rooted. There are also problems such as the overwhelming gap in national power with other countries and unfair trade. These and many other factors are truly intertwined in such a complex way that resolving them is by no means an easy task.

NGOs and other organizations have their hands full rescuing and assisting the victims. Will there ever be a day when light will shine on this problem? As a human being living in the present, I would like to keep an eye on the situation.

1 〈For the avoidance of doubt〉Normally, expressions such as "buying and selling" and "being sold" to a person are not appropriate. Therefore, such expressions should be written in parentheses. However, since the above expressions are frequently used in this article, from the viewpoint of readability, all applicable expressions thereafter shall be written without parentheses.

2 GNV uses the ethical poverty line (US$7.4 per day) instead of the World Bank's extreme poverty line (US$1.9 per day). For more information, please refer to GNV's article "How do you read the global poverty situation?See "

3 South Asiaclass systemHindus are divided into four classes. Hindus are divided into four classes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, and their occupations and marriage partners are determined based on their caste. Currently, the Nepalese Constitution prohibits discrimination based on caste in theprohibitionHowever, such discrimination persists.

4 A system in which a dowry is paid by the bride's family to the groom and the groom's family at the time of marriage. Common in India and other South Asian countries. If a woman fails to pay the dowry, she may be assaulted or, in the worst case, murdered. In Nepal, it is the law.prohibitionHowever, due to lack of enforcement, bad practices continue.

Writer: Kyoka Maeda

Graphic: Yumi Ariyoshi

Follow @GNV_tweets