Mid-term Review Workshop on the Implementation Results of the Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Program for the 2021-2025 Period in the Field of Victim Protection in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: NT) |
Close coordination to "leave no one behind"
Nearly 200 delegates representing agencies from central to local levels, especially officers providing support to victims of human trafficking, along with representatives from embassies, research institutes, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the United Nations (UN), participated in a series of seminars in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
The units actively shared their assessments of the implementation and coordination of support for victims of trafficking in the 2021-2023 period, identifying areas that need further promotion in the next period of the Program on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking in the 2021-2025 period. In particular, delegates focused on the contents that need to be proposed in the process of amending the law and evaluating future policies.
IOM Chief of Mission, Ms. Park Mihyung attended the Assessment Workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City. Ms. Park Mihyung highly appreciated the commitment of the Government of Vietnam in preventing and combating human trafficking, which was recognized in the Trafficking in Persons Report 2023 (TIP Report) of the US Government.
She also affirmed the important role of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and related ministries and branches, from central to local levels, in strengthening coordination regulations in receiving, protecting and supporting victims of human trafficking.
At the workshop, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs announced that 40 provinces have piloted the application of the Coordination Regulations in the reception, protection and support of victims of human trafficking, with the hope of identifying and supporting many victims of human trafficking, on the basis of current laws and the implementation of the Program on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking for the period 2021-2025.
“As we look towards the 2025 target and look towards 2030, today’s workshop is an opportunity for all parties to reaffirm their commitment to pursuing the goals of the Anti-Trafficking Programme and to continue to work harder in the coming years to enhance the implementation of the Programme more effectively.
IOM will continue to work with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and partners to achieve the above goals, continue to research and test models and reintegration support services, to both maximize existing resources and be able to comprehensively and specifically meet the needs of migrants in vulnerable situations," Ms. Park Mihyung shared.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Duong, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Evils Prevention (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) assessed: "No single agency or country can effectively prevent and combat human trafficking without international cooperation."
Therefore, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs acknowledges and highly appreciates the active support and accompaniment of IOM in the work of preventing and combating human trafficking and protecting and assisting victims. Specifically, the Department of Social Evils Prevention and IOM cooperate to develop a screening toolkit and an integration support model, focusing on livelihood support for victims of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations.
Policy closely follows reality
Since 2017, IOM has supported the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and local partners to pilot a variety of models to support the reintegration of trafficking victims, including a community reintegration model through self-help groups in Bac Giang, Hue and Tay Ninh.
This model has successfully supported 179 victims. In addition, 550 individuals have received support from victim support models in Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An. In addition, to improve the effectiveness of community-based models in support activities and proactive referral to identify and support victims, with the support of the Women's Union, 5 one-stop service support offices (OSSOs) were established in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hai Duong, Can Tho and Hau Giang.
Through enhanced cooperation and coordination among stakeholders, victim protection and support work has achieved remarkable results, with many frontline staff and social protection staff trained on how to use standardized toolkits and guidelines for support and referral work, contributing to supporting more victims.
However, as the methods used by traffickers become increasingly sophisticated, especially with recruitment activities on the internet becoming increasingly difficult to detect and prevent, the number of victims of trafficking and those in need of protection continues to increase. Therefore, there are still many areas that need to be discussed to enhance the effectiveness of implementation, as well as timely updates of related policies.
“I strongly recommend that the victim-centered approach be implemented more effectively in the implementation of the National Programme. We need to put victims of trafficking at the center of policy development and action plans. Only when we listen to the stories and experiences of victims can we adjust our policies and strengthen our systems so that no one is left behind,” concluded Ms. Park Mihyung.
On February 9, 2021, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 193/QD-TTg approving the Program on prevention and combat of human trafficking for the period 2021 - 2025 and orientation to 2030. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issued Decision No. 525/QD-LDTBXH dated May 5, 2021 on the Plan to implement the National Program for the period 2021-2025 with a focus on protecting and supporting victims. |
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