US AID has launched a new anti-trafficking programme in six high risk trafficking districts of Nepal from today. The five-year programme – Combating Trafficking in Person (CTIP) will be implemented at a cost of 6.8 million US Dollar by the Asia Foundation and its partners who will contribute additional funds for the programme. Addressing the launch ceremony in Nepalgunj today, Nepal's Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare Sarva Dev Ojha said every year thousands of Nepali women are trafficked into Indian brothels and every month hundreds of young girls are trafficked into the growing domestic sex trade. Ojha said human trafficking affects particularly the poor and vulnerable and stressed the need to fight this crime together. At the ceremony, the US Deputy Chief of Mission Patricia Mahoney noted that the Government of Nepal needs to show significant progress on strengthening enforcement against all types of trafficking; to improve protection of survivors; and to strengthen the national human trafficking working committee. According to USAID, the project is designed to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers in six high-risk trafficking districts of Banke, Rupandehi, Makwanpur, Kathmandu, Kavre and Sindhupalchok districts. This comprehensive and integrated counter trafficking initiative will strengthen coordination, collaboration, and technical skills across a diverse group of government. The latest U.S. Government studies indicate that as many as 800,000 people are trafficked internationally each year and that millions more are trafficked within their own countries. Non-governmental organizations in Nepal estimate that as many as 15,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked to India annually, while 7,500 are trafficked domestically for commercial sexual exploitation. In addition, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 Nepali women become involuntary domestic workers each year within Nepal, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2009 ‘Trafficking in Persons Report.