VIETNAM LAUNCHES ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING MANUAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001077 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI VM SUBJECT: VIETNAM LAUNCHES ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING MANUAL HANOI 00001077 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMIT (Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking) has officially launched the Government of Vietnam's (GVN) training manual on the prevention and suppression of human trafficking with participation of representatives of ministries and foreign organizations in Hanoi. The training manual provides an overview of human trafficking and explains international and domestic legal documents and GVN laws and policies regarding the trafficking issue, as well as describing assistance available to victims. Reactions among NGO and victim advocates to the new training manual are positive, with many applauding this latest GVN effort to provide relevant agencies training and insight on human trafficking issues. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On August 4, the Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMITT and the Office of the National Steering Committee against Human Trafficking unveiled a training manual titled, "Inter-Agency Training Manual on the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking" at a seminar in Hanoi. Participants included representatives of the Ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Labor, Justice, Vietnam Women's Union, Border Guard Command, and a variety of international organizations, including UNICEF, IOM, ILO, Save the Children UK, and UNIAP, as well as a number of foreign diplomatic missions. ¶3. (U) The GVN undertook this effort in May 2006, with a drafting team consisting of government officials from the Ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Labor, and Justice, as well as representatives from the Vietnam Women's Union and the Border Guard Command. The group turned to international organizations such as UNIAP, UNICEF, ILO, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children UK for input on the draft documents. The completed training manual includes five chapters: 1) an overview of the human trafficking situation; 2) international and domestic legal documents and government policies regarding human trafficking; 3) investigation and prosecution of traffickers; 4) protection, repatriation, and social reintegration of trafficking victims; and 5) cooperation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-trafficking activities. The GVN has printed 6000 copies to be distributed to the 63 provincial/city Steering Committees against Human Trafficking, the Border Guard Command, the Vietnam Women's Union and provincial Public Security authorities. Provincial and city Steering Committees will use the manual to conduct training workshops at the provincial and local levels. ¶4. (SUB) The Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee against Human Trafficking, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Chuong, proudly described the training manual as a cooperative effort between government agencies and foreign organizations operating in Vietnam. Chuong emphasized that of the six countries of the COMMIT -- Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar -- Vietnam is the only country to produce a training manual of this kind. The manual showcases not only the Government's effort to provide relevant agencies with necessary tools to fight against human trafficking but also the strong support that international organizations have given the government in its efforts to fight trafficking, Chuong added. ¶5. (SBU) Mr. Nguyen Van Dao, ILO National Project Coordinator, highlighted the importance of the training manual in improving the capacity of local-level agencies. The manual will provide local officials a better understanding of GVN policies and efforts regarding human trafficking. The manual would also help efforts to improve both the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and the rescue, protection, and reintegration of victims into society. For example, the training manual helps investigating authorities overcome the notion that trafficking victims are criminals and explains how victims should be properly treated, Dao explained. ¶6. (SUB) Expressing similar positive views on the newly-launched training manual, UNIAP National Project Coordinator Ms. Do Thi Mai emphasized that the manual provides a complete set of tools for agencies and authorities involved in anti-trafficking activities, providing a clear definition of human trafficking. For example, it carefully lays out the difference between trafficking and illegal migration. The manual also explains the legal documents, government policies and procedures, and the skills needed for properly investigating, prosecuting, and convicting traffickers, as well as the services needed to assist the rescue, protection, repatriation, and reintegration of victims. Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The recently launched training manual is an important, tangible step. The willingness of the GVN to bring in international organizations, utilize their expertise, and take on board their input in drafting the manual is particularly welcome and demonstrates that the GVN is committed to making the manual useful HANOI 00001077 002.2 OF 002 for its intended audience. GVN officials and NGOs agree that this effort will better equip local officials, departments, and agencies with the necessary knowledge about human trafficking issues, the tools to bring traffickers to justice, and the skills to help trafficked victims. While challenges remain -- capacity at the local level remains limited -- the training manual is another concrete step in the right direction in the effort to combat human trafficking and aid its victims. MICHALAK