National Level Advocacy Workshop and Dissemination of Kidney Trafficking Report

On January 8, 2016 half day program was organized in Kathmandu to disseminate the research report on kidney trafficking and discuss advocacy agenda to control and combat organ (kidney) trafficking among the representatives from different government bodies, judiciary, police, health professionals, donor agencies, international organizations and civil society activists. In the program advocate Mr. Rajendra Ghimire, Chairperson of PPR Nepal and the member of study team presented the key findings of the research conducted in 9 selected VDCs of Kavrepalanchowk District. He highlighted the economic, social and cultural, health, political and legal aspects of the kidney trafficking in Nepal along with the various issues faced by the kidney donors/victims before and after kidney donation. Mr. Ghimire stressed on the need of appropriate policy framework to tackle with the demand and supply side of the kidney in Nepal, based on a holistic approach that can address the multi-faceted problems associated with kidney trafficking. For which collaboration and cooperation among government bodies, civil society organizations, political parties, donor agencies and international organizations is crucial, he added. He concluded with the remarks that poverty is found to be one of the major dominating factors behind kidney trafficking in the respective communities followed by lack of education and awareness, ethnicity/caste, easy approach of trafficking brokers to the place and geographical accessibility among others.

Participants from various government institutions, judiciary, academia, media, NGOs, health professionals, international agencies and organizations expressed their concerns towards the pressing issues of kidney trafficking and human trafficking and also put forward their views and experiences working with the issues of discussion. They also indicated towards the need of comprehensive policy and review of existing laws to deal with the problem at hand and collaboration among all key stakeholders for the desired outcome in combating various forms of trafficking in person including kidney/organ trafficking. All together 40 people representing different institutions such as National Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court; Office of Attorney General; Decision Implementation Directorate- Supreme Court; National Women Commission; National Dalit Commission; Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare; USAID; The Asia Foundation; UNODC; NGOs; Academic institutions; leading national media; medical and health professionals; and others from concerned fields participated the program.