Research

Research

Nepal faces a severe shortage of reliable research and data regarding women’s livelihoods, human trafficking, the internal sex industry, and foreign employment. Without trustworthy and up-to-date research, stakeholders cannot accurately determine who Nepal’s most vulnerable women are or how to implement the best programs and interventions. Furthermore, comprehensive investigations are crucial to evaluating the enforcement of laws intended to protect women from trafficking and exploitation. SASANE is working to fill this glaring gap in knowledge by conducting major research and educating key actors on our findings.

  • In 2008, Advocate and Managing Director, Shyam Pokharel completed an investigation of convicted human traffickers held in Kathmandu prisons. The convicted traffickers were personally interviewed, and the report documented demographic and socio-economic trends, recorded their personal histories and documented the tactics employed to traffic women.
  • A research paper on the policies and programs of the government of Nepal from the perspective of gender equality was presented to the National Women’s Commission. The findings of the research were used to generate policy recommendations.
  • SASANE conducted original research on the Nepalese practices that subordinate and inflict violence upon women in the name of culture, tradition and religion, for the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.  The research was used to provide reports with recommendations including a draft bill on behalf of the Ministry that was presented in Legislature-Parliament.
  • SASANE staff are currently undertaking an extensive investigation of emerging trends in the human trafficking of and foreign employment abuses against Nepalese women. The quantifiable survey covers areas such as demographic and socio-economic trends, domestic violence and home environments, broker operations, transportation routes, experiences while in exploitative labor conditions, and repatriation and reintegration. The survey also investigates women’s experiences filing complaints with the authorities and evaluates the implementation of the Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act of 2007 and the Foreign Employment Act of 2007. After the report’s publication in 2011, SASANE will lead national and regional conferences to facilitate a discussion of the findings and encourage collaboration among stakeholders.