Patan (Lalitpur): Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking, labeling it as a heinous global crime. Speaking at a special program organized by Nepal Police's Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau at the Staff College in Lalitpur, in observance of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Minister Lekhak called for collective efforts to combat this crime.

Lekhak highlighted the need for cooperation beyond the police administration to effectively reduce human trafficking. He urged local governments, students, and teachers to coordinate efforts to raise awareness, stating, "Human trafficking should be treated as a common enemy and thus be eliminated, as it is globally considered a heinous crime with effects that are not limited to a specific territory."

The Home Minister proposed that human trafficking be categorized as a serious crime, advocating for the remand of alleged culprits for three months to facilitate thorough investigations. He cited global statistics indicating that women and infants are the most vulnerable during natural disasters, with a significant portion of human trafficking victims being women. Factors such as poverty, lack of education, and awareness contribute to this vulnerability. He urged local governments to intensify public awareness campaigns and called on the media to disseminate awareness content.

Home Secretary Eknath Aryal acknowledged the global concern and challenges posed by human trafficking. He called for public assistance in providing factual information, evidence, and findings to support police investigations and prosecutions.

Acting Attorney General Tek Bahadur Ghimire recounted the historical context of policies and laws against human trafficking, tracing their origins to the era of late Rana Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher JBR. He noted that the Anti-Human Trafficking Act issued in 2064 BS has been instrumental in prosecuting culprits and delivering justice to victims.

Inspector General of Police Basanta Bahadur Kunwar emphasized the global severity of human trafficking as a crime against humanity. He called for cooperation from all sectors to prevent and combat this crime.

Deputy Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Manjali Shakya Bajracharya, advocated for door-to-door awareness drives against human trafficking and stressed the need for transformative changes in societal mindsets to tackle the issue effectively.