Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong stressed the need to promulgate a law on the prevention and fight against human trafficking in the circumstance of human trafficking, especially in women and children has become more complex.

The Minister on October 25 made a report at the National Assembly’s on-going session in Hanoi,  adding that the law will have political significance, both domestically and externally, showing the strong determination of the Vietnamese Party and State in the fight against such crimes.

Minister Cuong also said the law would be considered as an important step in preparations for Vietnam to ratify the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking of Persons, especially Women and Children.

The Draft Law on P revention and Fight against Human Trafficking has eight chapters with 51 articles, stipulating issues of regulations and orientations for works to prevent and fight against human trafficking.

Besides common regulations, the draft law also has measures to prevent and act against violations, protect and assist victims, and establishes a coordination mechanism among government agencies and international organisations.

It also includes education and dissemination of information to high-risk groups and State management, and management of residents, immigration, marriage and adoption with a foreign factor, and any other areas where human traffickers can take unfair advantage of people.

The Minister said that the Party and State have exerted many efforts in the fight against human trafficking by promulgating many legal documents to protect human rights, including the Law on Marriage and Family, the Penal Code, the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control and the Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention and Control. Especially, the Prime Minister approved the Action Plan on preventing and combating the trafficking of women and children for the 2004-2010 period.

Many economic, social and dissemination measures have been taken in the community to contribute to fighting this crime and to help victims to reintegrate into the community.

In addition, Vietnam has boosted cooperation with other countries and international organisations like China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) to carry out joint activities in this area. Vietnam has also signed bilateral cooperation agreements on fighting human trafficking with Cambodia, Thailand and China.

The Draft Law on P revention and Fighting against Human Trafficking is the first among nine laws to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration at this session./.