Chittagong: According to International Labour Organization (ILO) at least 150,000 children and women are being trafficked barely in the South-Asian region and the major destinations of the trafficked victims are India and UAE. Anuradha Koirala, founder and director of Maity Nepal, shared this information at a seminar organized by Asian University for Women (AUW) at the Theater Institute Auditorium on Wednesday.
Anuradha Koirala urged the people of all walks of life to unite and come forward to protect the children and women of the region from being trafficked.
Poverty is not the only reason behind trafficking. “There are many other factors such as lack of awareness, gender discrimination, domestic violence, social conflicts, acute unemployment, insecure borders and weak laws,” she said.
Children and women are being trafficked for many reasons including sexual slavery, prostitution, organ trading and labour exploitation, she said. The organized group of criminals involved in this business is very influential both politically and economically, she added.
Provost of AUW Prof Dr Marry Sansalone presided over the seminar while the vice-provost Prof Sangita Rayamajhi delivered the vote of thanks.
It may be mentioned here that Anuradha Koirala has been a human rights worker and also founder and director of Maity Nepal, a non-government organization working to prevent women and children trafficking, rescuing trafficked victims, supporting and rehabilitating the victims in Nepal. She was also awarded CNN Hero 2010 recently.
Courtesy of The Independent
