There is no specific law in Nepal that directly criminalizes sex work. However, many sex workers have experienced arbitrary detention by law-enforcement authorities. The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act, 2007 (HTTCA) criminalizes pimps and clients, but not sex workers directly. However, the Act was overinclusive and often criminalized women engaged in voluntary sex work. The new Criminal (Code) Act 2017 criminalizes advertising and providing facilities for sex work in the section concerning crimes against the public good. These laws are used to prosecute sex workers. Two identity-based associations (IBAs) emphasize the importance of decriminalization, but do not support the legalization of sex work. A licensing system, if introduced under legalization, may exclude the most vulnerable sex workers, including housewives, migrants, and sexual minorities, who are secretly engaged in the business. I conclude that ongoing advocacy of IBAs should seek to provide safe working environments for sex workers in Nepal.

中文翻译：

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在尼泊尔通过基于身份的协会倡导性工作者的权利

尼泊尔没有直接将性工作定为刑事犯罪的具体法律。然而，许多性工作者曾被执法机关任意拘留。2007 年《人口贩运和运输（控制）法》（HTTCA）将皮条客和嫖客定为犯罪，但不直接将性工作者定为犯罪。然而，该法案过于包容，经常将从事自愿性工作的妇女定为犯罪。新的 2017 年刑事（法典）法案在有关危害公共利益的犯罪部分将广告和提供性工作设施定为犯罪。这些法律用于起诉性工作者。两个基于身份的协会（IBA）强调非刑事化的重要性，但不支持性工作合法化。如果在合法化的情况下引入许可制度，可能会将最脆弱的性工作者排除在外，包括家庭主妇、移民、以及秘密从事这项业务的性少数群体。我的结论是，IBAs 的持续倡导应该寻求为尼泊尔的性工作者提供安全的工作环境。