At Maiti Nepal, the team continues to deliver on their mission in the face of ever-growing and changing tactics by traffickers. We thank you for your continued support! In this summer newsletter, we provide a short recap of recent happenings at Maiti Nepal, including the team’s community outreach and broader awareness efforts of the toll that human trafficking continues to take on Nepali women and girls.

Advancing Anti-Trafficking Legislation

Maiti Nepal successfully hosted an interaction program on July 16 focusing on the Proposed Amendment Bill 2025 to revise the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2064. The program brought together members of the Women and Social Affairs Committee of the Nepal House of Representatives, law enforcement, civil society, and legal experts to gather feedback and strengthen the bill currently under parliamentary review.

The session was chaired by Ms. Anuradha Koirala, with chief guest Hon. Indira Rana Magar, Deputy Speaker of the House of

Representatives, and special guest Hon. Kiran Kumar Shah, Chairperson of the Committee. They emphasized the need for a survivor-centered, scientific, and nationally accountable legal framework that also reflects global realities. A key highlight was a detailed presentation by a consultant who outlined critical reforms, including the need to address digital and internal trafficking, ensure early victim testimony, and make legal processes more inclusive and accessible.

With strong participation from government agencies, judiciary, police, media, and local actors, the discussion reinforced the urgency of timely, inclusive legal action to end human trafficking in all its forms.

Working Together to End Child Exploitation and Trafficking

On July 29, 2025, the day before the 11th World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Maiti Nepal and the National Child Rights Council (NCRC) organized a stakeholder interaction in Kathmandu to address the growing risks of child exploitation and trafficking, particularly in informal sectors like restaurants, guesthouses, cabin dance bars, and the Adult Entertainment Sector (AES). Representatives from government, civil society, and local authorities discussed key challenges in rescue, reintegration, legal gaps, and the urgent need for education, stronger coordination, and child-sensitive approaches to prevent exploitation at its roots.

Key speakers emphasized collective responsibility and action. Ms. Indradevi Dhakal of NCRC stressed stronger collaboration to protect child rights. Ms. Anuradha Koirala called for strict action against traffickers and urged everyone to take moral responsibility to end internal trafficking. The event concluded with a call for unified efforts to ensure a safer future for Nepal’s children.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

On July 30, 2025, Maiti Nepal joined the global community in observing the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under this year’s powerful theme, “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” In solidarity with this cause, Maiti Nepal’s district offices organized a range of impactful activities, including awareness rallies, community orientations, pamphlet distributions, and public campaigns to sensitize people about the realities of trafficking and exploitation. These local initiatives aimed to educate and mobilize communities, encouraging collective action to combat human trafficking at the grassroots level.

A Cross-Border Rescue Story – Traffickers Are Getting More Audacious

In a recent cross-border rescue, Maiti Nepal, in collaboration with the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi, The Rescue Foundation India, and the District Police Office, Parsa, successfully brought home three young women and one man who were held against their will by a musical orchestra group in Bihar, India, just across the Nepal-India border.

The survivors had been lured by promises of short-term, well-paid dance performances. Instead, they were forced into degrading shows, denied payment, and subjected to threats and psychological abuse. Their mobility was restricted, phones confiscated, and escape nearly impossible, until one managed to send a distress message.

Following the rescue by The Rescue Foundation India, Maiti Nepal coordinated the safe repatriation of all four Nepalis. The victims received counseling on safe migration and trafficking prevention, while the alleged trafficker now faces potential legal action.

This is not an isolated case. Just days earlier, 35 Nepalis were rescued from Uttarakhand, where traffickers operated under the guise of employment, using a ‘chain business’ model. Victims were made to pay hefty fees for training, Aadhaar registration, and bank accounts. Once trapped, victims are pressured to recruit friends or relatives, repeating the cycle. Many were youths aged 16–41, with minimal education. Authorities fear over 200 Nepalis may still be trapped in similar schemes.

Speaking to the BBC, Maiti Nepal’s Executive Director, Mr. Bishwo Ram Khadka, called this a “new form of human trafficking,” a fraud-based, network-style operation requiring urgent state intervention, public awareness, and cross-border cooperation.

Whether in Uttarakhand’s industrial centers or Bihar’s musical troupes, these evolving tactics show why timely rescue and prevention efforts are more crucial than ever.

Your donations at work

Maiti Nepal’s Child Protection Center (CPC) and Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WRC) are currently serving approximately 250 beneficiaries, with a need to potentially double the number of people served t0 500, due to the ongoing efforts at awareness from programs such as those described in this newsletter. Your donations to date via Friends of Maiti Nepal have enabled these centers to keep running – but the need continues to grow. Additionally, many western governments have dramatically reduced their foreign aid flowing to countries in need including Nepal. Clothing, toiletries, and bedding are among the urgent needs as Maiti Nepal seeks to serve the growing number of people newly rescued from trafficking.

If you are able to make a new donation, or increase your recurring donation, please click here. Every donation of any amount helps!