The scourge of human trafficking in Vietnam
(VOV) - In recent years, Vietnam has focused on building a legal framework for strictly dealing with the complicated issue of human trafficking, particularly with a soaring trade in infants and foetuses.
Excerpts from a VOV reporter’s interview with Vu Thi Thu Phuong, a Vietnam-based Information Analyst for the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP):
VOV: What do you think of human trafficking in Vietnam?
Ms Phuong: Vietnam is a human trafficking hot spot. Women, children, and men are regularly trafficked across the borders shared with neighbouring countries. Women are traded into prostitution and domestic enslavement while men are exploited for their labour power. We’ve gathered considerable evidence of new, sophisticated methods, including trading infants, foetuses, and human organs, and turning women into surrogate mothers against their will.
VOV: How has the UNIAP assisted Vietnamese authorities to prevent human trafficking?
Ms Phuong: Leaders of six Greater Mekong Subregion countries signed the 2004 memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fight against human trafficking. Since then Vietnam has actively engaged in the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT).
As the Secretariat of the COMMIT, the UNIAP is in charge of providing technical support for training courses, seminars, and fact-finding tours as well as preparing for the signing of bilateral and multilateral cooperative agreements and participation of relevant agencies in regional forums.
VOV: Is the Vietnamese legal system fully capable of dealing with human trafficking successfully?
Ms Phuong: By adopting the Law against Human Trafficking in March 2011 and becoming a partner in the United Nations Convention against Trans-National Organised Crime, Vietnam has shown its strong determination to fight human trafficking and related crime.
It has issued a number of important decrees and circulars on supporting victims of human trafficking. But Vietnam’s Law against Human Trafficking has yet to meet international legal standards.
For example, the “human trafficking” term is not well defined in Vietnam as it only bans the behavours mentioned in Article 119 and 120 of the Criminal Code. This is one of weaknesses the UNIAP is currently working with the Ministry of Justice to rectify.
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VOV: Could you elaborate on any difficulties arising when working in Vietnam?
Ms Phuong: The UNIAP assists the Vietnamese Government in the four areas- namely prevention, justice, victim support, and policy development.
We focus on information campaigns designed to raise public awareness of the issue, targeting local authorities and vulnerable citizens interested in migrating to or working in foreign countries. Effective anti-human trafficking efforts require Vietnamese authorities to fully grasp the issue.
We also recognise the importance of law enforcement. If people are forced to realise the seriousness of human trafficking crimes, we believe deterrence will deliver better results.
VOV: Thank you very much.