National Conference of TIP survivors concludes

Participants at the national conference of TIP survivors.

NL Today

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Kathmandu: A two-day national conference of survivors of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) concluded in Kathmandu on Monday.

Addressing the program, Chari Maya Tamang, a noted activist fighting against TIP stressed the need to strengthen the network of survivors. “Other organizations work for survivors, but we work with the survivors. We need to expand and strengthen our network. We need to reach out to the survivors in remote parts of the country,” she said.

A survivor said that identifying as a survivor in the public is not easy as the survivors face discrimination at work. “This is why we need to be united through our network.”

Speaking at the program a male survivor expressed hope that the network would provide an environment for male survivors to be open and put forth their concerns. “Common assumption is that only women are victim to TIP, but there is also a high volume of male survivors, he said.

Another survivor suggested that survivors needed training on capacity building so that they can put forth their concerns before the authorities and stakeholders. The survivors at the conference have decided to expand their network base.

The conference has also issued a declaration with demands such as issuance of guidance and law on rescue, repartition, rehabilitation and reintegration of survivors, provision of education and skill development training for survivors and issuance of citizenship certificate to survivors and birth certificates to their children, among others.

The team is also handing over a memorandum to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday. Over 100 survivors from across the country participated in the conference. The conference was conducted by Shakti Samuha, an organization formed by the survivors.

Shakti Samuha is a civil society organization (CSO) partner of Hamro Samman, Winrock International. Hamro Samman, Winrock International has been providing supports to Shati Samuha in network formation of TIP survivors and in helping them through various capacity and skill development programs.