Nepali authorities, such as the Nepal Police, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau (AHTB), conduct border checks with India to identify possible trafficking victims. However, these efforts are often inefficient and rely heavily on the cooperation of non-governmental organizations.

In 2020, Nepal ratified the Palermo Protocol, the first international legal instrument that provides a definition of human trafficking and seeks to prevent and punish this crime, especially against women, girls, and boys. However, its implementation has been slow and limited. In parallel, the project “Prevention of Human Trafficking through Strengthening Legislation” , led by the Forum for Women, Law, and Development, promoted legal consultations with local governments in 12 municipalities to identify regulatory gaps and align local laws with the Protocol. As a result, three municipalities were legally strengthened, enabling them to act more effectively in the protection and rehabilitation of victims.

Regarding prevention, few specific trainings were carried out for officials, beyond some courses for the police, and although public awareness campaigns were developed, the officials themselves recognize the need to expand these programs, especially targeting vulnerable groups. Informative material was also distributed, and direct helplines were operated for victims, including one run by the Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Crime Division.

Between July 16, 2022, and July 15, 2023, the police carried out 131 investigations involving 321 suspects and continued investigating at least 209 cases of trafficking for sexual purposes involving 116 suspects. Courts convicted 176 traffickers, although the government did not report the sentences imposed or provide detailed information, leaving doubts about the nature of the crimes convicted. Overall, while the central government plans laws, effective enforcement falls to ministries, committees, organizations, and local governments.