HORIZONS PROJECT
Intervention Needs for the Prevention of Trafficking and the Care and Support of Trafficked Persons in Nepal

This study provided guidance to policymakers, program managers, and activists to support the design of policy and program responses to the trafficking of women and girls that respect human rights. Conducted in Nepal, the study recommended approaches to strengthen antitrafficking interventions in the region and to provide effective care and support to trafficked women and girls. The researchers assessed Nepal’s efforts from a human rights perspective, focusing not only on the abuse of fundamental rights that trafficking represents but also on the need to protect women’s right to freedom of movement and to employment.

The study included three interrelated components: policy analysis, documentation of current intervention models, and a community-based study on trafficking.

Key findings included:

• Conceptual clarity is an important element of a comprehensive and consistent response to trafficking.
• The links between trafficking and prostitution are overemphasized.
• Efforts to prevent trafficking often limit women’s voluntary migration.
• Antitrafficking programs may inadvertently fuel AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by overemphasizing links between trafficking and HIV and AIDS.
• More effective strategies for the prevention, care, and support of trafficked persons are needed.
• The lack of program evaluation makes it impossible to assess the effectiveness of trafficking interventions.

The study led to numerous policy, program, and research recommendations to promote human rights and safe migration.

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Location

Nepal

Duration

October 1999–February 2001

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Vaishali Sharma Mahendra, Celine Costello Daly, Isabelle de Zoysa, Johannes van Dam

Non-Council collaborators

Pankaja Bhattarai, Nick Langton, Taufiqur Rahman (The Asia Foundation)

Siobhan Crowley, Catrin Evans, Ratna Kapur, Rajendra Prasad, Jyoti Sanghera (independent consultants)

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources on this project

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See Also

• Nepal

• Horizons Program

• HIV and AIDS

• HIV and AIDS/Policy Development

• HIV and AIDS/Prevention

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