Mid-Term Review of Anti-Human Trafficking Activities
Written by Vu Thi Du – ETIP Programme Manager
Photo by Nguyen Hai Anh - Project Coordinator of ETIP Programme
Sharing experiences and enhancing cooperation among partners were the main themes of a mid-term review of the End Trafficking in Persons (ETIP) Programme hosted by World Vision in Hanoi.
During the workshop, participants heard of lessons learned, gave their recommendations and drafted plans to sustain the programme effectively. Related models successfully used by other national and international organisations were also discussed.
These models included a ‘United Nations Action for Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons’ (UNACT) survey on reintegration of former victims of trafficking in the greater sub-Mekong region, efforts by the ‘International Organization on Migration’ (IOM) on social integration via peer-to-peer groups, and the support of Peace House for trafficked women and children.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr Dang Hoa Nam – Deputy Director of the Department of Child Care and Protection under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs – said, “We need more community children’s clubs and to promote children’s ideas in local and regional forums. This will help to raise young people’s voices in the fight against human trafficking.”
After the two-day workshop, the participants had the opportunity to be taken on a study tour to Lao Cao province, which is highly recognised for its support for trafficking victims.
“This workshop was necessary and the trip to Lao Cao taught us a lot about raising awareness of the issue among relevant partners and strengthening our cooperation in helping victims of trafficking after they return home,” said Ho Xuan Phuc, Head of the Culture and Information Department in Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province.
Vietnam reported 507 separate cases of human trafficking in 2013, which involved 982 victims and saw 697 people arrested, according to a report released by the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT). Compared to 2012, the number of such cases increased by 4 percent and the number of victims rose by 11 percent.
Meanwhile, the European Union has revealed that the number of victims being trafficked from Asia to Europe has increased by 18 percent in a year, or by approximately 12,000 people. Most of the victims are sexually abused, sold to brothels, forced to work as slaves, or have internal organs removed.
World Vision implemented its ETIP programme – which has three components: prevention, protection and advocacy – in six countries in the greater sub-Mekong region in 2011 and it will continue until 2016. In Vietnam, the programme is carried out at a national level and in the three provinces of Yen Bai, Quang Tri and Quang Nam.