Surveillance for the Prevention
of Trafficking

The main exit points for trafficking girls and women for
sexual exploitation are Dhangadhi, Kakarbhitta, Birgunj,
Sunauli, Biratnagar (Jogbani Ram), Janakpur, and
Pashupatinagar where Maiti Nepal has established Transit
Homes to prevent girls and women trafficking. A border
surveillance campaign has been started to identify pimps
attempting to traffic girls and women before they manage
to enter India. Many trafficked girls and women return to
Nepal through the Transit Homes situated
at the border points.

These Transit Homes intercept girls and women who are
being trafficked at the border, and return them home with
the assistance of the local police administration, business-
men, industrialists, political party workers, representatives
of local organizations, and local conscientious citizens.
They also apprehend pimps involved in girls and women
trafficking and hand them over to the Police.

This border surveillance program has helped Maiti Nepal to successfully prevent girls
and women from being trafficked, and in returning them to their homes. The local
police authorities have also provided assistance in this campaign. Maiti Nepal has
posted its female staff at the border to patrol the area, and identify girls and women
who are being trafficked as well as the pimps. Returned trafficked girls and women
are also posted at the border as they understand the modus operandi of the pimps.
Maiti Nepal has intercepted about one thousand girls and women at the border before
they crossed over to India, and has returned them to their homes. These girls and
women were lured by pimps and were in the process of being trafficked. Once the
girls and women are stopped at the border, the Transit Homes help to locate their
guardians and to search for the pimps. The Transit Homes also help to initiate
necessary legal proceedings against the pimps who are arrested. The Transit Homes
provide these returned girls and women with free voluntary health check ups,
counseling, and other assistance. Once these girls and women are out of danger,
and if Maiti Nepal is satisfied that they will not be trafficked again, they are handed
over to their parents or guardians.

At the Nepal-India border, Maiti Nepal has stopped many girls and women from
being taken to the Gulf Countries and has returned them home. Pimps who traffic
girls and women to the Gulf countries, do not take any flights out of Nepal. These
girls and women are first taken overland to India as taking them out on a regular flight
from Kathmandu is complicated requiring appropriate documentation. They are flown
to the Gulf countries from Delhi or Mumbai in India. Therefore, it has become
essential to take appropriate precautions, and maintain strict surveillance at the
Nepal-India border points.

Maiti Nepal has established a Check Point at Nagdhunga and has begun a campaign
to check the buses leaving Kathmandu. Nagdhunga is the main entry and exit point
to and from Kathmandu.