Human Trafficking Prevention: United to Raise Public Awareness

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Human trafficking cases increase in number and sophisticated engines

On June 27, the Hotline for Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (111) received a call from T.V.D (Nung ethnic group) in Xin Man district, Ha Giang province about his daughter T.T.N. Born in 2010, she was tricked into working at Linh Nga motel on Bach Long Vi island, Hai Phong city. T.T.N was forced to pour wine, serve customers at the karaoke bar; forced prostitution. If she resisted, her captors would threaten her with drowning. The family turned to the Hotline with hopes of rescuing their lost daughter.

Upon receiving the information, the Hotline connected with the Hai Phong Social Work Center and the Department of Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (Department of Drug and Crime Prevention and Control, Border Guard Command) to request verification and support for T.T.N. The Border Guard Command coordinated with the Criminal Police Department - Ministry of Public Security to use professional and technical measures to investigate, verify and rescue T.T.N safely, sending her over to her family to take her back to Ha Giang.

According to the report of the Department of Children (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), in 2023, the Hotline for Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (111) received 1,781 calls. Among these, 1,365 provided callers with general information about the Hotline's activities and prevention and control of human trafficking, 337 calls for counseling on psychology, policies, services and support for victims, 79 calls were referrals for rescue and support for 87 victims of human trafficking.

According to Major General Phan Manh Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Investigation Police on Social Order Crimes, Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, human trafficking crimes are very complicated across the borders of Vietnam - Cambodia, Vietnam - China and Vietnam - Laos. In the first 6 months of 2024 alone, there were 39 cases related to human trafficking nationwide (an increase of 18.2% compared to the same period in 2023), of which the police prosecuted 35 cases and 104 subjects for this act.

The methods and engines of human traffickers are increasingly sophisticated, luring victims with the tricks of easy work, high salary, only working in the office, on the computer; luring with love relationships, brokering marriage or children adoption to trick victims into selling them abroad.

Raising awareness of human trafficking prevention and control

Responding to the “World Day against Trafficking in Persons” and “National Day against Trafficking in Persons” (July 30), many localities in Vietnam have implemented tasks, organized training programs in a resolutely and synchronous manner to raise awareness about human trafficking, especially to vulnerable groups, women and children.

The play “Road to the Future” is part of a series of activities for human trafficking prevention and control in Lao Cai province (Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper).

On July 27, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the People's Committee of Lao Cai province to organize a series of activities for human trafficking prevention and control. At the market in Bac Ha town (Bac Ha district, Lao Cai), the play "Road to the Future" attracted many viewers. The simple and easy-to-understand content of the play helped people easily access the acts and tricks used by human trafficking criminals. Also, Lao Cai Provincial Police presented in Mong language about the current situation, development, methods and tricks of human trafficking criminals in the province. The local people were guided to visit the booth displaying paintings, photos, and related books.

Previously, on July 22, Sin Ho District Police (Lai Chau) coordinated with Ta Ngao Commune People's Committee to organize a legal dissemination session about human trafficking prevention for nearly 60 people in the commune. Here, Sin Ho District Police focused on disseminating information to raise people's awareness of methods and tricks of human trafficking criminals; how to recognize them. The consequences of becoming victims of human trafficking crimes and the measures and forms of preventing and handling this type of crime were also presented.

The form of propaganda through images, vivid visual video reports and true stories based on the police force's work on human trafficking prevention and control helped people understand the serious harm of these crimes upon the victims, their families and entire society. They learned how to protect themselves and their families, and actively participate in preventing, fighting and exterminating human trafficking crimes.

Law dissemination session on preventing human trafficking organized by the Sin Ho District Police (Lai Chau) (Photo: Lai Chau Newspaper).

In Quang Ngai, promotion and dissemination of legal education on human trafficking prevention and control were organized with diverse, rich content and forms. Since early 024, Quang Ngai Provincial Police have organized 40 promotion sessions, with more than 3,200 participants. Promotion teams of the Provincial Police and police units and localities operated on cyberspace, writing 65 news, articles, photos, and reports on this topic.

Also, the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with the Office of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Vietnam to organize 14 training conferences and disseminate information on sending workers to work abroad under contracts; organized 13 training conferences and disseminate information on social evils and human trafficking prevention and control, with more than 9,500 participants. The Provincial Border Guard Command organized 21 dissemination sessions. More than 1,600 officials and people participated.

According to the representative of the Anti-Human Trafficking Crime Agency (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam), the fight against human trafficking crimes will continue to have complicated development in the coming time, with an increasing trend of people searching for jobs to earn a stable living. The strong development of the Internet connection and social network brings many conveniences for information exchange, but is also where human trafficking criminals can deceive and lure victims.

It is necessary for Party committees at all levels, authorities, socio-political organizations, mass organizations, departments, branches and the general public from the central to local levels to commit and to turn commitments into actions, so that each member of the community will become an active member in the fight against human trafficking.

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