Kathmandu – Sex work and human trafficking are not the same, according to participants at a recent discussion program. The discussion emphasized the need to view sex work through a human rights lens.

At the program organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) on Sunday, which focused on the rights of individuals involved in sex work, the Ministry of Health’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health presented data showing there are 86,809 sex workers in Nepal.

Diksha Singh delivered a presentation covering the current laws related to sex work, the proposed amendment bill, and the necessary legal provisions for sex workers. She stated that the existing laws criminalize sex work. Her presentation recommended measures to reduce violence against sex workers, provide options for those wishing to exit the profession, and adopt a Nordic model legal framework in Nepal.

It was noted that even the amended bill proposed by the Ministry of Law fails to decriminalize sex work. The government is preparing to amend Sections 119 and 120 of the Penal Code. Advocate Sanjay Timilsina from SAATHI Nepal warned that such amendments could lead to a sharp rise in the number of sex workers and people living with HIV. “Sex workers are not asking for a red-light area or the Nordic model,” he said. “They simply want their labor to be recognized as a human rights issue.”

Although sex work is not legally recognized, the decriminalization of the profession is essential. Participants stated that police often harass workers under the pretext of public offense charges. Since the amended bill is more punitive than protective for sex workers, the program stressed the need to lobby for a more enabling legal environment.

The program was moderated by FWLD advocate Navin Kumar Shrestha, who also provided a detailed overview of the current legal provisions and the condition of sex workers in Nepal.