6th July 2010, Kathmandu - Lax government enforcement of human anti-trafficking laws has led to an increase in the trafficking of young Nepalese women and girls, mainly for exploitation in Indian brothels, local activists say.Nepal’s 2008 Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act stipulates punishment for traffickers of up to 20 years in prison and US$2,600 in fines, and provides for the compensation of victims. But it seems the new law has done nothing to reduce the phenomenon.“The crucial problem is weak implementation of anti-trafficking laws allowing the traffickers to operate easily,” said Shyam Kumar Pokharel, managing director of Samrakshak Samuha Nepal (SASANE), an NGO...

28th June 2010, Bangkok - The UN is urging Asia Pacific governments to step up their efforts to address gender inequalities in HIV response as rates of infection among women in the region continue to rise. Some 1.6 million women are living with HIV in the Asia Pacific region, while 35 percent of all HIV infections in Asia are women, compared with just 18 percent two decades ago, according to UNAIDS. “Tackling harmful gender norms that are at the root of women’s vulnerability to HIV is crucial to stem the spread of the epidemic,” said Moni Pizani, UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) regional programme director. UNIFEM and UNAIDS launched an action plan on 28 June in Pattaya, Thailand...

22nd June 2010, Colombo – UNICEF Sri Lanka handed over six new schools to local communities in eastern Sri Lanka during two days of official ceremonies.The six schools represent a total investment of 420 million rupees (3.8 million US dollars) and will benefit thousands of pupils and families.UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Philippe Duamelle said: "These schools represent hope for the communities after years of being blighted by the consequences of the 2004 tsunami and civil conflict."UNICEF, in partnership with the Sri Lankan government, is committed to ensure every child has access to education this means addressing the needs of the more remote communities such as these."The six schools ...

Kathmandu, 14th June 2010 - Millions of children from marginalized ethnic families in Nepal are drifting out of education because not enough is being done to keep them in school, aid workers warn. “Enrolling them in school and simply providing scholarships is not enough to ensure they continue going to school,” said Bhaya Ram Yadav from the Jana Jagran Yuba Club, an NGO that works with disadvantaged children in Bara District, 200km south of the capital Kathmandu. Bara has one of the worst literacy rates in the Himalayan nation, with only 27 percent female and 53 percent male literacy, well below the national averages of 44 and 68 percent respectively, according to the Department of Educa...