U.S. Ambassador Peter W. Bodde visited the Maiti Nepal check post at the Nepal-India border crossing in Rupandehi on September 11 in order to support the fight against trafficking in persons.  During the visit, the Ambassador spoke with Maiti Nepal border monitors who told him that the Nepal Police’s strong support makes their job easier.  Maiti Nepal is a Nepali anti-human trafficking and women’s rights NGO, specializing in preventing trafficking and rehabilitating trafficked girls and women.  It recently completed work on a $500,000 grant awarded by the U.S. Department of State to assist trafficking victims and support safe migration.

 While in Bhairahawa, Ambassador Bodde also visited the Tarai Dalit Sarokar Center, where the staff briefed him about the positive impact U.S. assistance has had on enabling voter registration for thousands of marginalized Nepalis, including Dalits, women, and others with low incomes.  The center received funding as part of the Embassy’s five-year $23.9 million election support program through the International Foundation for Election Systems and the National Democratic Institute.  The Center works to combat caste-based discrimination.