July 30 officially announced as Anti-Human Trafficking Day

Hanoi (VNA) – July 30 was officially announced as Vietnam’s Anti-Human Trafficking Day during a ceremony held by the government of Vietnam and the United Nations in Hanoi on July 14.

Addressing the event, Major General Nguyen Phong Hoa, Deputy Director of the General Department of Police, said human trafficking has been on the rise in recent years with smugglers using more sophisticated ways to do their business.

He noted a wide array of factors that cause human trafficking including economic purposes, gender imbalance, poverty, unemployment and a lack of law enforcement and international cooperation against the issue.

The Prime Minister issued Decision No.793/QD-TTg selecting July 30 as Vietnam’s Anti-Human Trafficking Day in an attempt to intensify human trafficking prevention and involve all of society in the efforts.

A representative for the UN said the UN is committed to working with the government of Vietnam in fighting human trafficking, fostering the implementation of international commitments in Vietnam and enhancing intergovernmental cooperation on the issue.

The Vietnam Women’s Union Central Committee, the Ministry of Security and the People’s Committee of northern Lao Cai province will co-organise a ceremony in the province on July 30 to kick off activities in response to the Anti-Human Trafficking Day.

Vietnam launched an action plan to prevent and combat human trafficking in 2004.

From 2011-2015, authorities from across the country uncovered more than 2,200 trafficking cases with over 3,300 smugglers arrested and nearly 4,500 victims rescued.

The country also made amendments on its Penal Code in 2011 and 2015 to toughen control on the crime.-VNA