KATHMANDU, Aug. 7: Stakeholders have called for a comprehensive revision of the proposed amendment to the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007, saying the bill must address the evolving nature of trafficking and align with international standards.
During an interaction organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) with lawmakers in Kathmandu on Friday, participants proposed 22 revisions to the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) First Amendment Bill, 2026, arguing that the proposed legislation requires further refinement to respond to emerging challenges.
FWLD Executive Director and advocate Sabin Shrestha said the bill could become more effective by revising provisions related to definitions, victim protection, coordination among government agencies and legal mechanisms. He suggested amendments to several sections of the bill to strengthen its implementation.
Human trafficking through Pashupatinagar on the rise
“Human trafficking and transportation are no longer limited within national borders. The amendment must be aligned with international conventions and commitments,” Shrestha said, stressing the importance of incorporating the principles of the Palermo Protocol, to which Nepal is a party.
He said trafficking has moved beyond traditional forms and Nepal needs a legal framework that reflects these changing realities. Recalling that Nepal introduced the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act in 2007 after replacing the previous anti-trafficking law, Shrestha said the amended law should also comply with global legal standards.
He further noted that Nepal is no longer merely a source country for trafficking but has also emerged as a destination country, making stronger legal provisions necessary.
Highlighting the objective of the discussion, FWLD legal officer and advocate Binod Chandra Devkota said there was still confusion among the three tiers of government regarding their roles in controlling human trafficking. He questioned whether human trafficking and human transportation should be treated as separate offences and stressed the need to improve the language and provisions of the bill.
During the interaction, lawmaker Prem Bahadur Bayak shared cases of Nepali citizens being trafficked to Cambodia and Australia and sought suggestions on preventing similar incidents. Lawmaker Sushila Dhakal Acharya raised concerns about ensuring legal assistance for Nepali victims living abroad.
Lawmakers, including Bishnumaya Pariyar, Sajida Siddiqui, Yashoda Baral, Pavitra Bishwakarma, Radhika Ramtel, Srijana Shrestha, Prabha Karki, Saraswati Lama and Khemraj Koirala, discussed the changing dimensions of trafficking in Nepal. They noted that women and children remain among the most vulnerable groups but emphasized that recent cases show men are also increasingly becoming victims, requiring a more inclusive legal framework.
More than five dozen lawmakers participated in the interaction, which FWLD described as a significant step toward strengthening the proposed amendment by identifying gaps and recommending necessary improvements.
