Famous for its Himalayan peaks and as a center for Buddhist and Hindu spirituality, Nepal is a beautiful and diverse country strategically positioned between the major Asian powers, India and China. Underlying Nepal’s physical beauty, however, are political stagnation and high levels of hunger and poverty. More than a quarter of the country’s population live below the poverty line and Nepal ranked 145 of 188 countries on the 2015 Human Development Index (HDI), just ahead of Pakistan.

Exacerbated by the powerful and destructive April 2015 earthquake, poverty and lack of economic opportunity in Nepal make those at the bottom of the economic ladder vulnerable to exploitation. Trafficking in persons (TIP) is a serious problem in Nepal, characterized by both international and internal trafficking of women, men, and children. Trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is the most obvious form but various emerging trends of human trafficking are of growing concern, including cases of organ trafficking, internal trafficking, fake foreign marriages, and international labor trafficking. These crimes take a tremendous toll on Nepal’s tight-knit families and villages, tearing families apart, robbing them of financial resources, and creating significant health concerns, including the introduction of AIDS into many rural and conservative communities.

Countering trafficking in persons (CTIP) is a priority for the US Embassy and the US military in Nepal. The effects are destabilizing to our ally and the profits from these crimes fund many other illicit activities of criminal and terrorist networks around the globe.

A sign at the Nepal-India Border calls for an end to human trafficking. Unfortunately, given the tremendous push and pull factors contributing to the illicit trade, there is a lot more work to be done before it is brought to an end.

One US Army team has been working with local Nepali organizations to prevent trafficking and help victims reclaim their lives. These organizations lost much of their office equipment when their headquarters were damaged in the 2015 earthquake and aftershocks. To address these needs and increase the capacity of these praiseworthy organizations, Spirit of America is providing new laptops, printers, and cameras. This will increase efficiency, communication, and ultimately allow these CTIP organizations to reach more people.

Your generosity will help support our troops and their efforts to end human trafficking in Nepal.