Strengthening inter-sectoral coordination in the fight against human trafficking

Human trafficking is becoming increasingly sophisticated, organized, and pervasive in cyberspace, especially targeting young people. Faced with this situation, experts and representatives of international organizations call for increased inter-sectoral coordination, investment in the younger generation, and victim-centered policies.

Fight and suppress human trafficking crimes

Hotline 111 receives denunciations and reports of human trafficking

The discussion attracted the participation of many young people. Photo: IOM

On July 28, nearly 250 delegates from agencies and organizations in the network to prevent and combat human trafficking in Vietnam, including representatives of government agencies, United Nations organizations, international organizations, cybersecurity experts, and youth leaders, attended a seminar with the theme "Connecting actions: Leaving no one behind in preventing and combating human trafficking" in Hanoi .

Sharing at the event, Acting Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam Mitsue Pembroke highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts to promote effective safe migration and prevent and combat human trafficking, especially the Government 's efforts in amending the Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking in 2024.

“This is a remarkable milestone and demonstrates Vietnam’s strong commitment to combating this type of crime. The law amendments will lay a stronger foundation to address the increasingly complex trends of human trafficking, which are being further complicated by socio -economic challenges,” she said.

Acting Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam Mitsue Pembroke shared with the press. Photo: IOM

With nearly 2.4 billion young people globally, this is the largest generation in history. Of the 281 million international migrants, about 11.3% are under 24 years old. In Vietnam, there are more than 22 million young people aged 16 to 30, and many have considered leaving their home country for better work and education opportunities.

Ms. Mitsue Pembroke emphasized that, although youth and young workers are increasingly vulnerable to forms of human trafficking through online platforms, they are also the force that can create change.

“Young people’s creativity, energy and technological mastery enable them to develop new solutions to prevent and combat human trafficking in the digital age. Investing in young people will therefore encourage them to take action to protect their peers and fully exploit their potential to build a more resilient community,” said Mitsue Pembroke.

Also within the framework of the event, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, commented: “Vietnam is preparing to host the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention, the first global treaty to address cybercrime, marking a turning point in international cooperation to combat crimes using technology, including human trafficking.

Above all, we need to come together to reaffirm our commitment to protecting victims, especially vulnerable communities and children, and to dismantling organized crime networks in the digital age.

Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, shared at the event. Photo: IOM

On the sidelines of the discussion event is the exhibition space and creative experience "Detect signs - Prevent crimes", allowing participants to interact, experience, and proactively learn about the signs of human trafficking through updated data, real stories, and visual images.

This space aims to raise awareness among participants, identify human trafficking as a form of organized crime; and equip them with the skills they need to protect themselves and their communities, know how to find support resources and make informed migration decisions.

In recent years, the situation of human trafficking crimes in the Asia-Pacific region has been very complicated. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Southeast Asia has witnessed an explosion of fraud complexes, where transnational criminal organizations operate complex online fraud activities.

Exhibition space and creative experience “Detect signs – Prevent crimes”. Photo: IOM

According to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Trafficking in Persons Report into Online Fraud Syndicates in Southeast Asia, the number of trafficking cases receiving IOM assistance in the region has more than tripled from 296 in 2022 to 978 in 2023.

July 30th of each year is chosen by the United Nations as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons - an occasion for the international community to look back, raise awareness and affirm its commitment to combating a crime that is leaving profound consequences not only for the victims but also for the whole society.

This year’s theme, “Trafficking in Persons is Organised Crime – Let’s Act Together to End Exploitation!”, calls for a strengthened role for law enforcement in dismantling organised crime networks, and highlights the importance of putting victims at the centre of protection, support and access to justice.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202507/tang-cuong-phoi-hop-lien-nganh-trong-cuoc-chien-chong-mua-ban-nguoi-7fb22de/