Kathmandu – An interaction program with journalists was held on Sunday to discuss the proposed amendment to the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2064.

The bill, currently tabled in Parliament, proposes amendments to 18 sections of the original Act. During the interaction program organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), stakeholders emphasized that the revised bill remains incomplete and requires further improvements.

Under Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens, Meena Paudel; Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, Gyan Bahadur Bista; and FWLD Executive Director, Sabin Shrestha, shared their views on the proposed amendments and unanimously stressed the need for further refinement.

They expressed that although the bill has undergone considerable revision, much work remains to be done to make it comprehensive. Under Secretary Paudel clarified the 18 proposed amendments, stating that while many important issues have been addressed, the bill is still lacking in some key areas.

She pointed out that the lack of concern from high-level authorities has hindered the bill from being comprehensive. Though the bill includes many components, certain aspects remain vague, making it difficult to consider the bill complete.

Paudel also explained the current status of the Rehabilitation Fund, including its collection and utilization. She mentioned that as the fund is solely dependent on government resources, there is often a shortage of necessary funds.

Likewise, DSP Bista from the Human Trafficking Bureau noted that the bill still lacks important components, making both legal and investigative processes highly challenging. He highlighted several key issues: the short investigation period of only 25 days, the narrow definition of human trafficking, and the failure of the bill to address labor and sexual exploitation as outlined in the Palermo Protocol.

He further pointed out the vague and incomplete provisions regarding human trafficking, the absence of a separate law to combat trafficking, limited victim compensation mechanisms, and challenges in evidence collection abroad. He stressed the need for an effective mechanism to rescue and repatriate victims, as well as difficulties in prosecuting foreign nationals involved in trafficking due to a lack of proper identification.

Bista also pointed out wording errors in the bill. Presenting data from past cases, he emphasized how tourist visas have been severely misused, leading to increased exploitation of women abroad.

FWLD Executive Director Shrestha also discussed gaps in the bill and emphasized that it has not been amended in accordance with international conventions. He acknowledged that while the amended bill includes several progressive provisions, it still falls short.

He noted the absence of a clear action plan and policies in the bill and stated that it does not fully comply with the Palermo Protocol. Though the amendment is a step forward compared to the previous version, Shrestha highlighted that it remains incomplete and that parliamentary committees now have the opportunity to incorporate the missing elements.