Kathmandu December 30. National Assembly lawmakers have stressed the need of ratifying the protocols to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, for collectively addressing the inter-country organized crime. Speaking in a discussion programme on the Convention organized by Forum for Women, Law and Development here today, Vice Chair of the National Assembly, Sashikala Dahal said the three protocols to the Convention should be ratified to bring under legal action the people involved in human trafficking. She added that human trafficking was like the modern-day slavery. “Although the antiquated bonded labour practices like Haliya, Kamaiya and Kamlari have been abolished and outlawed, the vestiges of the same still remain in society, ” she said, adding that it was necessary to ratify the protocols in order to bring to book those people involved in human trafficking and trade not only within the country but even when they are hiding abroad. The Upper House vice-chairperson on the occasion cited the Nepal Police data which showed 546 complaints related to human trafficking were registered with the police in the fiscal year 2017/18. Anyone convicted in human trafficking case faces 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500,000. However, the accused persons are let scot-free due to several loopholes in the legal process, she lamented. Lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari opined only ratification of the protocols would not be enough to address the problem and therefore cases of human trafficking should be constantly foolowed and legal action implemented. Lawmaker Anita Devkota said since women and children are victimized the most from human trafficking, prompt and strict action should be taken against the culprits. Upper House member Binda Devi Rana drew the attention of the government, parliament and society towards the increasing incidents of women and children trafficking in the country. Lawmaker Balram Baskota called for adequate discussions on the laws before passing them hurriedly as doing so would solve only half of the problem. Similarly, lawmakers Thagendra Puri, Pramila Yadav and Chakra Prasad Snehi reiterated on ratification of the protocols to the Convention at the earliest. In the programme, National Assembly secretary Rajendra Phuyal informed that the protocol to the Convention was registered in the Upper House on September 11 for ratification. He added that it could not be ratified as the Parliament session was prorogued one week after its registration. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pushkar Sapkota said the government was in favour of ratifying the protocol to the Convention for localization of the international laws. The United Nations General Assembly had passed the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime on November 15, 2000. It came under implementation since December 25, 2003. Forum’s executive director Sabin Shrestha said 173 out of the 193 UN member countries have ratified the Convention and its protocol. All countries of South Asia except Nepal have ratified the Convention. Nepal had signed on the Convention on December 12, 2002 and ratified it on December 23, 2011.