The heartbreaking truth of human trafficking: Nepal

Trafficking risk factors: poverty, conflict and climate change 

A report by UNODC released ahead of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 states that ‘Global crises, conflicts, and the climate emergency are escalating trafficking risks.' Millions of people around the world are being impacted by these things and finding themselves displaced from their homes or in circumstances where they cannot access vital things like education, healthcare or jobs. This leaves them more vulnerable to being exploited by traffickers.

In many places, trafficking has become a low-risk business that is so lucrative that traffickers are even willing to take advantage of their own family members and neighbours.

Statistics from the International Labour Organisation suggest that, in 2021, almost 50 million people around the world were living in modern slavery – of which 27.6 million were in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriage.

Human trafficking in Nepal

In Nepal, the aftermath of a decade-long armed conflict and an earthquake in 2015 that killed 9,000 people and had a significant impact on the economy have contributed to high rates of poverty and lack of employment opportunities in the country, leaving people, especially women and girls, particularly vulnerable to trafficking. 

This is one woman’s story of being trafficked from Nepal.

Rama’s* story

Rama is in her early thirties. She lives on her own with her two young children while her husband has found employment in another country to try to provide for the family.

When Rama’s son was still a baby, the family’s financial situation was so bad that Rama was willing to take a job working away from home in a country in the Middle East.

At the time, Rama didn’t have much knowledge of foreign employment laws, her rights, or what to be aware of and, unfortunately, when she arrived in the foreign country where she was expecting to start work, she found that the agency she had trusted (and paid) to find her employment, abandoned her so she could not ask for help when things immediately went wrong.

Physical and sexual abuse

Rama had been recruited to work as a domestic maid, and from the very first day of the job, things were bad. Rama was continuously physically and sexually abused. She became desperate to return home and after five months, she managed to get help from another Nepalese worker to contact the Nepal embassy.

With the embassy’s support, Rama was able to make her way home to Nepal, but she had endured five months of physical and mental torture and been left without any wages at all for the time she had worked.

Mental health consequences

As a result of the physical abuse, Rama experienced heavy bleeding from her nose and mouth, and even though after some time of medical treatment the bleeding stopped, the toll the abuse had taken on her mental health remained.

Like many victims of human trafficking, Rama became depressed and suicidal. She says she had lost her hope for life.

It was during this period that Rama came to the attention of Tearfund’s local partner, the Shanti Foundation. Staff got in touch with her and, after making an assessment of her situation, began by starting to provide counselling for Rama. They also got her involved with expressive art therapy where she came into contact with other women who had been through similar suffering. There, she was able to share her own story and listen to others. Rama says she was able to find a renewed sense of unity, love for life and purpose as the women were inspired to work together to raise awareness and help prevent more people becoming victims of trafficking.

A new chapter in life

After being supported by the Shanti Foundation, Rama says she feels that a new chapter of her life has begun. She feels more motivated and empowered, and she has developed a new love for her life and the confidence to raise her voice to help provide support to survivors and to prevent human trafficking.

‘Even after coming home to Nepal, I struggled with my mental health,’ Rama tells us. ‘I felt lonely and depressed and had no love for my life. After coming into contact with the Shanti Foundation Protection project, I am so grateful that I have a new life. They took care of me and provided me with support so that now I am able to stand on my own feet and raise my voice for my rights and to help to advocate for an end to human trafficking.’

Rama’s story is one of hope after horrific circumstances, but not all human trafficking stories have a hopeful ending. In every region of the world, human beings are sold, bought and traded like objects after being deceived, forced or abducted. 

Three ways you can help end human trafficking:

1. Pray with us.
2. Consider giving to help support the work that Tearfund does around the world helping to release people from poverty so that they will be less vulnerable to trafficking.
3. Learn to look out for the signs of potential trafficking. 

*Name has been changed for protection.