Lao Cai province’s border guards arrested a human trafficker (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Officials from the Ministry of Public Security reported that human trafficking and child abuse have recently occurred with new tricks and methods and competent agencies have accelerated the crackdown on the crimes.
At the question-and-answer session of the 14th National Assembly’s seventh session on the morning of June 4, many deputies raised questions relating to child abuse and human trafficking to Cabinet members.
385 trafficking victims need to be rescued
Opening the question-and-answer session, Minister of Public Security To Lam stressed that over the past time, human trafficking and child abuse have occurred with new tricks and methods.
The Ministry of Public Security reported that by the end of 2018, 519 people nationwide have been identified as victims of human trafficking and they have not been rescued yet.
More human trafficking cases through marriages with foreigners and labour export activities have been found, the ministry said.
Deputy Dang Thi Phuong Thao from northern Nam Dinh province questioned the Minister of Public Security on ways of tackling human traffickers (Photo: VNA) Sharing the minister’s views, deputy Dang Thi Phuong Thao from northern Nam Dinh province raised a question about responsibility of the public security sector and ways to tackle the issue in the coming time.
Minister of Public Security To Lam said by the end of the first quarter of 2019, there are 385 trafficking victims who need to be rescued.
“This number is huge. The Ministry of Public Security is stepping up international cooperation as well as coordination with competent agencies of other countries to rescue these victims along with working to minimize human trafficking through marriages with foreigners and foreign travels,” Lam said.
The public security sector has accelerated communications to raise public awareness of human trafficking, especially among those of vulnerable groups like women, children in border areas, and ethnic minorities, and enhance coordination among sectors and branches in the prevention and fight against human trafficking.
“In addition to that, immigration management will be tightened,” the minister said.
Difficulties in handling child abusers addressed
One of the issues that caught concerns of many deputies is the handling of child abuse cases.
Deputy Mai Thi Phuong Hoa from northern Nam Dinh province asked Cabinet members about how competent agencies will tackle the abuse of a nine-year-old girl in Chuong My district, Hanoi, as the case stirred angers in the society recently.
On February 24, Nguyen Trong Trinh sexually abused Q, born in 2009, in Chuong My district. When Q shouted and tried to fight back Trinh, she was then physically abused. According to medical forensic records No. 965/C09-TT1 dated March 5, conducted by the Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Science Institute, Q had a cut in her genital area, bruises and congestion in her face, neck and bosom, and her third tooth in lower right broke.
In addition to that, in its own record, the Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital found Q had bleeding in genital area and hymen and it has yet checked Q’s vagina and nearby area as Q had pains there.
“Acts committed by Nguyen Trong Trinh showed signs of a count on “raping an under-16 person”. However, the competent agency of Chuong My district initially took legal proceedings against Trinh on charge of “obscene act against a person under the age of 16”, Hoa said, questioning the competent agency staff’s incompetence.
Replying the matter, Le Minh Tri, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy said when the case was brought to light, the investigation agency asked the People’s Procuracy of Chuong My district to approve a decision to take legal proceedings against the case and Trinh on charge of obscenity and the People’s Procuracy of Chuong My district agreed.
Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy Le Minh Tri (Photo: VNA)
As there were controversial opinions about the case, the Supreme People’s Procuracy asked the Hanoi People’s Procuracy to re-check and at the same time directed the Chuong My district People’s Procuracy to approve a decision to prosecute Trinh on the charge of raping a child.
On the responsibility of officials relating to the wrong determination of the first count, Tri said he instructed the Hanoi People’s Procuracy to give a discipline measure against the vice chief of the Chuong My district People’s Procuracy and the prosecutor in charge.
Fielding other questions about the treatment of child abuse cases and measures to mend the situation in the coming time, Minister of Public Security To Lam said besides consulting sectors and branches on child abuse prevention and control, the ministry has directed police units at all levels in localities to intensify preventive measures.
According to To Lam, the public security sector reached an agreement with the procuracy and court sectors on the process and ways to tackle child abuse cases, and instruct the public in detecting and reporting child abuse with an attempt to intensify the crackdown on the crime.
Leaders of the Ministry of Public Security said the active participation of competent agencies, the pro-activeness of people in reporting those who committed the crime over the past time helped bring to light more child abuse cases.-VNA
