KATHMANDU, Nepal–Nepal’s anti-trafficking crusader Tek Narayan Kunwar has been awarded with the 2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero.
US Secretary of State John F. Kerry honored anti-trafficking hero cum judge Kunwar during the unveiling of the 2014 TIP Report at a ceremony in the U.S. Department of State headquarters.
Kunwar was honoured for his eternal efforts to combat against human trafficking in persons by fully implementing the Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Act (HTTCA) of 2007, while championing the rights of victims.
“Judge Kunwar’s victim-centered approach has provided a much needed ray of hope in the ongoing legal struggle against trafficking,” the statement released by US embassy in Kathmandu reads.
During his previous tenure in District Court Makwanpur, Kunwar pioneered a “Fast Track Court System” to reduce the length of time trafficking survivors must wait to appear in court.
The Judicial Council of Nepal, a national government agency, named Judge Kunwar the Best Performing Judge of 2013 for his aggressive approach to combating human trafficking.
The TIP Report assesses governments around the world on their efforts to combat modern slavery. This year’s Report includes narratives of 188 countries and territories.