Kathmandu: Human trafficking-related
complicity by government officials was a serious problem in
Nepal, according to a US report which expressed concern that
there were no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of
those linked to the crime.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who released
the 10th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report in Washington
D.C., called it "a catalogue of tragedies that the world
cannot continue to accept."?
"Trafficking-related complicity by government
officials remained a serious problem in Nepal, with
traffickers using ties to politicians, business persons, state
officials, police, customs officials, and border police to
facilitate trafficking," the State Department`s annual report.
released yesterday said.
"Despite these serious concerns, there were no
investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government
officials complicit in trafficking," it states.
India and Gulf countries are the major destinations of
Nepalese girls and women being trafficked to foreign countries
for sex trade.
The US report recommends Nepal government to increase
law enforcement efforts against all types of trafficking and
against government officials who are complicit in trafficking;
institute a formal procedure to identify victims of
trafficking and refer them to protection services, according
to a US embassy statement.
Clinton, who has made women`s and children`s rights a
signature issue, said "human trafficking crosses cultures and
continents."
The top US diplomat said she has met survivors of
trafficking and their families, along with brave men and women
in both the public and the private sector who have stood up
against this terrible crime.?"All of us have a responsibility
to bring this practise to an end."
At the same time, the US praised Nepal`s effort to
control trafficking despite resource constraints. The
government has made significant efforts to prosecute
traffickers despite limited resources, the Report said.
Nepal maintained its status as a `Tier 2 country`,
according to the report that raises trafficking-related
complicity by government officials.
Countries shown to have a significant number of
trafficking victims are assigned to one of three tiers.
This year`s report included for the first time a
section on the United States, according to the statement.
PTI
