UNODC South Asia

Human trafficking & migrant smuggling are complex, fast-evolving crimes, demanding precise, coordinated & operational responses.

This week in Bangladesh🇧🇩, law enforcement officials sharpened skills in telecom & cloud evidence, OSINT, covert operations & tactical planning.

European Union in Bangladesh UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

In Nepal🇳🇵, UNODC and the Attorney General’s Office trained 70+ judges, prosecutors, investigators and officials from Madhesh on tackling organized crime & money laundering. A step to strengthen the justice system.

Supported by EU🇪🇺to counter human trafficking in South Asia!

European Union in Nepal European Union in Bangladesh UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Effective responses against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants require technical capability and operational cohesion.

This week in Sri Lanka🇱🇰, UNODC and INTERPOL are strengthening law enforcement coordination and frontline capacity in advanced document examination, impostor detection and victim identification.

European Union in Bangladesh European External Action Service - EEAS UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime INTERPOL HQ

Out Now: UNODC South Asia's Odyssey (March 2026)

In Focus:

✅Frontline capacity for victim-centered response
✅Women in maritime security & anti-trafficking efforts
✅Passenger targeting for smarter borders
✅Boosting capacity against money laundering

➡️http://t.ly/dspJu

UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Just Launched: Nepal’s Trafficking in Persons Report!

A major step toward advancing evidence-driven understanding of trafficking in persons, led by the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal, with support from the European Union and UNODC.

Analysing the situation in Nepal, the report provides a comprehensive deep dive into trends, routes, risk factors and national responses. It is grounded in the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.

The report was launched by Top Bahadur Magar, Chairperson NHRC, Lily Thapa, Member NHRC, Sanjeeb Raj Regmi, Deputy Attorney General, Radhika Aryal from MoWCSC, Murari Kharel from NHRC, Jose Luis Vinuesa Santamaria from the European Union in Nepal, and Kristian Hölge from UNODC ROSA.

Key findings

➡️Destinations: Middle East (61%), South Asia (24%), SE Asia/China (11%), 3% to Africa
➡️Scale: ~136,000 Nepalis smuggled abroad annually
➡️Drivers: Dysfunctional family situations, poverty, unemployment, among others
➡️Tactics: Fake job offers,misinformation etc.

Supported by the European Union, UNODC provided technical support to the Government of Nepal in developing the report through research methodology, targeted data collection, stakeholder dialogues, provincial consultations, national level validation and a comprehensive review process.

European Union in Nepal European External Action Service - EEAS National Human Rights Commission of Nepal - NHRC, Nepal UNODC - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Publication

TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS IN NEPAL (NATIONAL REPORT 2026)

Download Link:https://www.nhrcnepal.org/uploads/publication/TIP_Report_2026_English_NHRCN_Report.pdf

The EU Delegation to Nepal’s Head of Cooperation and Chargé d’Affaires, Jose Luis Vinuesa-Santamaria, joined the National Human Rights Commission of Nepal and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to launch the “Trafficking in Persons in Nepal: National Report” today.

Human trafficking and the smuggling of migrant workers are serious human rights violations that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, including women, girls, and children. Evidence-based studies such as this national report are critical to addressing these challenges.

Together with partners across South Asia, the European Union is supporting governments to prevent trafficking and smuggling, protect victims, and promote safer pathways for people to migrate abroad.