The Nepali government has decided to mark the fourth National Day against Human Trafficking with the theme of "Let's do away with gender-based violence and put an end to human trafficking" on Sept. 5.

A main celebration committee has been formed under the coordination of Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Mahendra Prasad Shrestha to observe the Day.

At a press meeting organized by the ministry here Friday, Shrestha said the cases of human trafficking are on the rise locally and globally and a day-long celebration is not enough to control this.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 25, 2007 decided to observe Sept. 5 as a national day against human trafficking so as to mark the ratification of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Convention against women and children trafficking 2002 by the House of Representatives on Sept. 5, 2006.

Reports prepared by organizations concerned show that Nepal is in the second position in the world regarding human trafficking. Around 10,000 to 12,000 cases of trafficking in persons are recorded every year in Nepal.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2010)