Vietnam unveils action plan to curb human trafficking
The Vietnamese government showed its unflinching commitment to fight human trafficking when it unveiled a draft action plan at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City Dec. 18.
The draft action plan, authorized by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, attempts to curb the lucrative business of trafficking women and children from Vietnam to China, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and some Eastern European countries.
“The action plan aims to cut human trafficking rates by 50 per cent by 2010,” announced Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
As part of the plan, a Central Anti-Human Trafficking Committee will be established. The plan will come into effect from early 2005 to 2010, said Mr. Khiem.
According to him, the action plan will focus on prevention, protection of victims and prosecution of traffickers.
“Government agencies are expected to launch extensive public awareness campaigns, wage a large-scale war against human traffickers, offer assistance to repatriated victims and formulate stringent anti-trafficking legislation,” said Mr. Khiem.
Despite the government’s great efforts in the past, human trafficking has been burgeoning in the past decade. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese women and children are trafficked into bonded sweatshop labor, domestic servitude or forced prostitution, reported Deputy Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem.
Mr. Tiem said that from early 1991 to September 2004, as many as 4,076 people were convicted of human trafficking.
Since human trafficking is transnational in nature, partnerships between countries are critical to win the fight against modern-day slavery, he highlighted. Over the last few years, Vietnam has been working in collaboration with other countries in the region to step up its anti-trafficking efforts, he added.
Reported by Duc Trung – Translated by Tran Phong
Story from Thanh Nien News
Published: 19 December, 2004, 21:27:21 (GMT+7)
Copyright Thanh Nien News
