International cooperation key to curbing human trafficking

The event gathered the participation of nearly 100 representatives from State agencies, international organisations, non-governmental groups and diplomatic missions.

Addressing the conference, UK Home Office Senior Officer Responsible for Vietnam Dave Pennant said the UK Embassy in Vietnam has been closely collaborating with the local ministries of Public Security and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in combating human trafficking and helping victims re-integrate into society.

Pennant praised efforts made by all sides involved, stressing that the UK Government wants to work with the Vietnamese Government and international organisations to eradicate the crime.

Major Pham Mai Hien from the Ministry of Public Security reported that Vietnam discovered over 2,000 human trafficking cases involving 3,200 traffickers, and nearly 4,000 victims between 2011 and now.

He said the unbalanced sex ratio and labour shortage in countries that share borderlines with Vietnam are among causes of the issue.

Talking about Vietnam’s effort in fighting the crime, he noted that the country has ratified the United Nations’ Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, as well as taken part in the ASEAN action plan and convention on human trafficking prevention.

Vietnam has also implemented several communications campaigns to raise public awareness on the matter and set up a hotline on human trafficking, Hien added.

Established in 2014, the UN Action for Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons aims to ensure a coordinated approach to more strategically and effectively combat trafficking in persons in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and beyond.