Kathmandu, Nepal - 13 May 2019 - UNODC organised, under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT) and in partnership with the Office of Attorney General (OAG), a two day consultation followed by a two-day "drafting session", to develop victim identification guidelines and national referral mechanisms to counter trafficking in persons. Representatives from the government, civil society organisations and law enforcement agencies all participated in the consultation.
Victim identification is crucial to protect victims from exploitation and to provide timely assistance to those rescued. The development of these guidelines is therefore important for officials of all parties, to protect the legitimate rights of victims and to bring perpetrators to justice. Without a formal set of guidelines, proper identification of victims of trafficking has been a challenge in Nepal, which in turn led to less protection of TIP victims and fewer criminal prosecutions against perpetrators.
These victim identification guidelines were drafted on existing international standards and leveraged the vast expertise of UNODC in many of its recommendations. The guidelines encompass the 4 major forms of trafficking i.e labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, trafficking in persons for organ removal and child victims of trafficking. A detailed questionnaire to identify victims on each of the form of trafficking has been developed for border guards, investigators, prosecutors, immigration authorities, relevant Ministries and civil society. It will also be disseminated as an annex within the guidelines.
The guideline development process is being led by the OAG and an expert group comprising the Ministry of Women , Children and Senior Citizen, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nepal Police and UNODC. This guideline will be shared with relevant stakeholders for further input before finalization of the draft. These guidelines are very important as they will guide the development of effective "Referral" and "Coordinating and Monitoring" mechanisms.
Nepal has ratified several International Conventions including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC), and the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, it has not ratified the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children. Following the comprehensive two- day consultation workshop, a first draft of the new guidelines was developed during a drafting session in Nagarkot. This draft includes for example specific sections on identification of TIP for forced labour and TIP of children. Two further consultations are planned after which a final draft will be presented to the government Nepal.
GLO.ACT Is a four-year (2015-2019) joint initiative by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) being implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). GLO.ACT aims to provide assistance to governmental authorities and civil society organizations across 13 strategically selected countries: Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Mali, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, South Africa, Ukraine. It supports the development of more effective responses to trafficking and smuggling, including providing assistance to victims of trafficking and vulnerable migrants through the strengthening of identification, referral, and direct support mechanisms.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Binija Goperma, Programme Coordinator
GLO.ACT Nepal
binija.goperma@unodc.org
www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/glo-act/
Email: glo.act@un.org
Twitter: @glo_act