Vienna, Austria - 7 August 2018 - Under the framework of the Global Action against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants ( GLO.ACT), UNODC delivered last year a first briefing on the ratification and accession process for the UN Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) Protocols for 15 government and civil society representatives. The briefing was organized upon the request of the government and enabled participants to understand in-depth the issues related to the protocols and the ratification process in general.
Building on the momentum generated in the country and the government's keen interest in addressing trafficking in persons (TIP), Nepal - with the support of GLO.ACT - participated in the 8th Session of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons as an observer for the first time. Nepal has ratified the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime Convention ( UNTOC), the parent convention of the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Protocols but is yet to ratify the protocols.
Following the participation in the working group session, a meeting between the government focal point, the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Vienna and GLO.ACT team members was held to discuss upcoming GLO.ACT activities in the country. In addition, following the visit to Vienna, GLO.ACT Nepal's project steering committee, which was formed to oversee and guide the implementation of the project within Nepal, also held a meeting to finalize and sign-off the upcoming implementation agenda.
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