Madhu and Yuvraj Pokhrel were raised in an orphanage in Kathmandu among the survivors of human trafficking, and are now learning how to topple the trade that has harmed many of their friends.
Madhu Regmi has left her home in Kathmandu to further her studies in Australia Source: Supplied / Madhu Regmi
“It is a very big issue in Nepal, and not just trafficking overseas now. With the post-COVID era, trafficking within a country, domestic trafficking has also been a very severe problem,” Madhu said.
The pair are currently in Darwin, studying at Charles Darwin University on scholarships and gathering skills they’ll use to fight human trafficking.
Madhu Regmi and Yuvraj Pokhrel at the Charles Darwin University Campus in Darwin, where they’ve both been given scholarships. Source: SBS News / Laetitia Lemke
Yuvraj, 28, was orphaned when armed insurgents killed his father during the civil war.
“I have closely witnessed those kinds of situations with my eyes, I experienced the stories … how they were treated in the brothels, how they were treated in the workplace when they got trafficked,” he said.
Maiti Nepal founder Anuradha Koirala celebrates the 32nd anniversary of her work. Source: Supplied / Maiti Nepal
Galvanised by the stories, Madhu and Yuvraj returned to Maiti Nepal as adults, working and studying with the organisation to end slavery throughout the region.
He says the trade in humans is second only to drugs and weapons.
Madhu Regmi, seen here MCing a 2022 International Women’s Day event at Maiti Nepal, says trafficking is a “very big issue” in Nepal. Source: Supplied / Madhu Regmi
Maiti Nepal founder Anuradha Koirala says a child arrives at the facility every day.
She blames poor access to education and jobs, continuing gender disparities in Nepal and the complications of an open border with India, needed to access shipping routes.
Yuvraj Pokhrel and Madhu Regmi studying in the Charles Darwin University library. Source: SBS News / Laetitia Lemke
Over 30 years, Maiti Nepal has helped tens of thousands of children and women.
With two staff lawyers, they have convicted more than 2,000 traffickers, but it is an uphill battle, with slavery benefiting the bottom line of big business.
“There are more reports of forced marriage made to the Australian Federal Police every single year… and we know that most of those affected are children, Burn says.
Source Agencies
