The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) have signed a Record of Discussion (R/D) for a project aiming to support the victims of trafficking in Vietnam.

The signing ceremony, held in Hanoi on July 31^st, was for the “Strengthening the Operation of Hotline for Counselling and Supporting Trafficked Survivors” phase II, in continuation of the “Establishment of Anti-Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hotline” phase I which was implemented during the 2012-2016 period.

A counsellor operating the hotline: 18001567. (Credit: JICA)

In phase II, the project will help to expand the existing Child Help Hotline 18001567, operated in Hanoi, An Giang and Ha Giang provinces, to include a function as a hotline for anti-TIP, as well as strengthening the operation of the hotline during 2017-2020.

Under the upcoming phase II, the connecting unit in An Giang and the newly established unit in Da Nang will be upgraded into higher level regional call centres, which, together with the existing unit in Hanoi, are expected to enhance the counselling on anti-human trafficking in the Southern, Central and Northern regions, in addition to improving the overall support for the victims of trafficking.

The centres’ counsellors will be under the management of MOLISA and will be offered training in order to ensure the required expertise and support service quality. The nation-wide recognition of the hotline No. 18001567 is expected to improve the effectiveness of the projects activities.

Since it began operations in October 2013, there have been nearly 10,000 calls to the hotline, among which 232 calls were immediately referred to the police for investigation and resulted in the rescue of 92 victims.

The signing of the R/D for phase II of the project is part of JICA’s support towards Vietnam’s National Action Plan to combat the trafficking of persons, on the occasion of 1^st anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day for Anti-TIP (July 30^th, 2016-2017)./.

VNF/NDO