Cross border meeting to address human trafficking

A long undulated and winding Himalayan territories, as well as the Indo-Gangetic Plain, demark India and Nepal. Both countries share a common 1,770 km border which is a hotspot for many migrants across the country. These irregular hotspots are used by many traffickers to transport victims from one country to other.

Purvanchal Gramin Seva Samiti (PGSS), a Caritas India Partner is continuously coordinate with the cross-border Agencies in Nepal for collaborative actions to curb Human Trafficking. Under the Swaraksha Anti-Human Trafficking Program, PGSS has built a good rapport with all stakeholders at the border in India and with counterpart agencies in Nepal.

The outbreak of the Pandemic has ruined the lives of many families due to the Lockdown in the country especially Nepal where many people lost their livelihood are now planning to leave for work and come to India as a destination of transit.

At this time when there are more chances of vulnerable people being trafficked, PGSS made constant contact and dialogue with various stakeholders at the border to curb this human trade. In this context, a Cross border meeting was organised with government and non-government organizations working in ​​the India-Nepal border, Maharajganj district and Rupandehi and Navalparazi districts of Nepal. Different Stakeholders present from both Countries discussed the preventive measures and Protection aspect for the Victims of Trafficking. Representatives from Nepal  Police, APF, NGOs of Nepal, Village Nepal, Maiti Nepal, Afant Nepal,  were present in this meeting along with the Indian Counterparts from PGSS, Manav Seva Sansthan, Plan India, Child Line, Police and SSB was Present and shared their efforts and Action Plan.

This meeting was organized at Ashoka Hotel Bhairahawa Nepal by Opportunity Village Network Nepal, working at cross border to address the issue of Human Trafficking. PGSS, the Swaraksha AHT Team staff facilitated the discussion and shared about the case identification, legal process, and Human trafficking trends amidst Covid-19.

The meeting also focused on the causes of Human Trafficking and the prevention and Repatriation Part. The Core Group members from both countries insisted to work together to address the cross-border Human Trafficking issue.

At the same time, Maiti Nepal, a non-profit organization in Nepal shared the experience of follow-up, monitoring and documentation of the cases in the cross-border meeting.

The meeting was hosted by Nepal to build a strong network of all the agencies working in India and Nepal to combat Human trafficking. Representatives from both countries expressed their inclination to have a joint action so that the progress in combating Human Trafficking can be seen in both countries. Some of the key steps to be considered while combatting Cross-border Human Trafficking including Identification of human trafficking cases, working on the root causes of Human trafficking, Strengthening legal framework in both the Countries, Promoting Helpline numbers, Ensuring Case follow-up, Proper Documentation of Cases in both countries, Constant Meetings, Registering FIR, Initiating S O P or MOU, Prohibiting Child Labor and Child Marriage.