AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HIV/AIDS, TIP, LABOR EXPORT LAW AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001916 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM HUMANR TIP HIV AIDS ETRD EINV ECON VM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HIV/AIDS, TIP, LABOR EXPORT LAW AND ADOPTIONS WITH THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY'S SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REF: A) HANOI 1802; B) HANOI 1803; C) HANOI 835 HANOI 00001916 001.2 OF 002 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On July 20, the Ambassador met with the Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Social Affairs Committee to encourage legislation supporting HIV/AIDS programs, assisting counter-trafficking in persons efforts, establishing labor export oversight and establishing better foreign adoption controls. The GVN is planning to increase its budget to combat HIV/AIDS and is looking into methadone treatment programs, though it has some reservations. The NA also wants to encourage local officials in problematic provinces to educate young people about the dangers of trafficking in persons, and is also addressing gender discrimination alongside plans to outlaw sex-selection abortion. The GVN would also like to develop a program for labor export to the United States. NA debate on social issues is playing an increasingly important role in defining Vietnam's approach to these problems. We will continue to work with NA delegates to address these issues as they develop their capability to do so. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On July 20, the Ambassador met with NA Social Affairs Committee Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu to discuss the recent passage of a new law on HIV/AIDS during the NA's most recent session (Ref A and B),as well as to suggest areas where the NA should develop better oversight legislation concerning trafficking in persons, foreign adoptions and the export of Vietnamese labor. Committee Vice Chair Le Van Dzieu and PolOff were also present. HIV/AIDS Law -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The Ambassador thanked Thu for her leadership in passing the new Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control on June 21, 2006. Although the law provides basic legal protection for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA),much more needs to be done to ensure that communities and workplaces respect the rights of PLWHA, and that provincial and local authorities enforce these rights, he stressed. Stigma and discrimination remain heavy burdens for PLWHAs and their families. "Sympathy Clubs" and similar (U.S.-funded) Vietnam Women's Union-organized PLWHA support networks are a positive development. He encouraged the NA to develop a workplan to reduce social stigma against PLWHA and to establish an umbrella group for associations of PLWHA to give them a national voice, perhaps under the planned new Law on Associations (Ref C). ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that with 100 new HIV-positive people per day, Vietnam is failing to "turn the tide against HIV/AIDS." The United States remains strongly committed, with USD 34 million in funding this year and likely at least USD 50 million for next year under the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in its effort to control the epidemic. Especially significant are efforts to halt spread of the disease by effectively helping the many HIV-positive residents leaving treatment at "06" drug-rehabilitation centers. These efforts should include methadone and other medicen-assisted therapies. The Ambassador also noted his concern that the GVN develop better programs to educate young people about the threat of HIV/AIDS and offered to meet with the committee to discuss approaches to education in greater depth. ¶5. (SBU) Chairwoman Thu stated that the NA is trying to increase the GVN's State budget allocation to fight the epidemic because the number of PLWHA is rising and the cost of anti-retroviral drugs is high, and she asked that PEPFAR fund disbursements be timelier. Regarding PLWHA support associations, Thu stated that the NA discussed the issue during debate on the HIV/AIDS law and, though the new Law on Associations has not yet been passed, the NA is actively encouraging the development of more "partnership clubs" to support these people. Thu also requested U.S. advice concerning methodone treatment for drug addicts, as the GVN remains concerned about the safety and price of such therapy, as well as effective implementation, and noted that many methodone treatment patients in other developing nations relapse soon after their release since they cannot get the drug. The Ambassador offered to have his staff put together a brief paper addressing all of these concerns. Trafficking in Persons -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the United States and Vietnam share concern over trafficking of women and children within and outside of Vietnam. The United States funds a number of programs to help victims and to educate women and children about the dangers of trafficking. This is a complex issue that requires work in education, economic assistance and efforts to address issues like HANOI 00001916 002.2 OF 002 the perceived worth of girl children and the imbalance of sex ratios in rural areas. We will continue to work with the NA to develop counter-trafficking programs, the Ambassador added. Thu agreed with the Ambassador's assessment of the root causes of trafficking. The NA wants to do more to encourage local officials, particularly in border provinces, to educate young people about the dangers of trafficking. Thu also noted that the NA is working on a law outlawing abortions for the purpose of sex selection, but acknowledged that sex discrimination remains a major problem. In the latest NA session, the Vietnam Women's Union presented a draft law on gender equality, but "the problem is deeply rooted" and no action was taken on the draft, Thu added. Adoptions -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador noted that the United States resumed facilitating Vietnamese adoptions in January 2006. We were hopeful that the new system would be more transparent than the previous system (which was suspended in 2002),but there are already some indications of old problems resurfacing. Brokers who seek only to make money on adoptions are reappearing. For example, one orphanage in Danang recently claimed that five separate children were left on their doorstep in a one-week period. We will bring these concerns to the attention of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ),but there is also a clear need for the NA to develop legislation that will help ensure that Vietnamese children are not treated as commodities, the Ambassador said. Thu noted that the GVN has adoption agreements with 54 different nations, so the social committee is well aware of the importance of legal oversight of such programs. She promised to raise our concerns with the MOJ. Labor Export Law -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Without prompting, Chairwoman Thu herself raised the issue of Vietnam's labor exports, noting that she traveled to the United States last year to meet with the U.S.-based Vietnam Association of the Handicapped. While there, she "saw how much need there is for foreign labor" in our economy and asked if it is possible to develop a program for Vietnamese workers to find employment in the United States. The Ambassador noted that this is a very controversial issue in the United States, and that while opportunities for work visas do exist, these visas are of short duration and it does not make economic sense for most workers to seek one given the high charges of labor brokers. We recognize that labor exports are a lucrative source of income for Vietnam and many other countries; however, the lack of oversight and accountability of the firms that hire laborers to work outside of Vietnam is a serious problem that the NA should consider while drafting new labor export laws. This issue is also related to trafficking in persons, the Ambassador added. Thu confirmed that the NA is paying attention to the role of labor export companies as they draft the new labor law. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) NA debate on social issues like HIV/AIDS and trafficking in persons is playing an increasingly important role in defining Vietnam's approach to these problems. We will continue to work with NA delegates to address these issues as they develop their capability to do so. MARINE