Nepal: National stakeholders shape SOP to strengthen responses to human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Kathmandu, Nepal/20 February 2026: Trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants are deeply complex forms of organized crime, often involving cross-border networks and vulnerable communities. For law enforcement, the success of investigations and prosecutions depends on clear and consistent investigative practices. Well-defined procedures help law enforcement officers in effectively identifying victims, securing evidence, and coordinating across agencies. Such frameworks are essential in translating national anti-trafficking policies into victim-centered action on the ground.

Recognizing this need, 40 representatives from law enforcement agencies and civil society in Kathmandu reviewed and provided inputs to develop Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cases of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants. Supported by the European Union, the consultation was held as part of a EU-funded project, “Preventing and Addressing Trafficking in Human Beings and the Smuggling of Migrants in South Asia.” Nepal’s Deputy Attorney General, the Chief of the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police, and the Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Nepal presided over the discussions.

Participants provided substantial feedback on the SOP during the consultation, recommending clearer referral pathways for victims and underscoring the need to maintain confidentiality safeguards at every stage of the investigation and legal proceedings.

The SOP seeks to provide law enforcement officers with a structured framework to support all stages of investigation, from the identification and rescue of victims to evidence collection, inter-agency cooperation, and referral mechanisms for victim support.

The initiative comes at a timely moment for Nepal. In December 2025, the Council of Ministers endorsed the National Policy against Human Trafficking, 2026, aimed at strengthening prevention, protection, prosecution, and rehabilitation mechanisms related to trafficking and migrant smuggling. The investigative guideline is expected to complement this policy by translating its objectives into practical procedures for law enforcement authorities. Once finalized, the framework will provide Nepal’s law enforcement agencies with a common reference for investigating trafficking and migrant smuggling cases.

This activity contributed to SDG 5, SDG 16 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the European Union)