REPORT URGES GREATER GON ATTENTION TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

                                                                                

KATHMANDU, June 13, 2007 – The Government of Nepal is making significant efforts to eliminate trafficking in persons but has not fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.  This assessment was released as part of the 7th annual Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State on June 12 in Washington, D.C.

Speaking at the release, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated, “More and more countries are coming to see human trafficking for what it is -- a modern-day form of slavery that devastates families and communities around the world.  The report's purpose is to raise awareness, to highlight best practices and to inspire governments to take action against trafficking.”

United States law requires the U.S. Department of State to issue the Trafficking in Persons Report annually with the goal of stimulating action and creating partnerships around the world in the fight against modern-day slavery.  Countries determined to have a significant number of trafficking victims are assigned to one of three tiers (definitions available at www.state.gov/g/tip). 

Nepal is graded as a Tier 2 country, meaning it has not fully complied with the minimum standards but is making significant efforts to meet those standards.  Political instability and limited resources in Nepal hampered effective implementation of anti-trafficking policies.  The absence of local government in rural areas as a result of the decade-long insurgency has increased the risk of trafficking while constraining the government’s efficiency, the report said.  Despite these limitations, Nepal maintained its efforts to prosecute trafficking offenders and expanded local Women’s Police Cells to 24 stations.  The Government of Nepal, however, was not able to adequately fund or staff the Women’s Cells, limiting their effectiveness.  Nepal also did not demonstrate a concerted effort to criminally prosecute and adequately punish labor recruiters who use deceptive practices to force workers into involuntary servitude abroad.

The full report is available at www.state.gov/g/tip.  A Nepali translation of the Nepal portion of the report is attached and available at http://nepal.usembassy.gov