Human trafficking is an important legal, human rights, and diplomatic priority for the United States Government in Vietnam. The USAID Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project is working with the Department of Social Vices Prevention (DSVP) of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to improve ministries’ coordination mechanisms for victims of human trafficking upon reentry. To this end, EpiC and DSVP hosted the second consultative workshop between various government ministries working on victim support to provide a second round of comments on a new intersectoral coordination regulation. This regulation focuses on the reception, protection, and support of victims of human trafficking. There were 38 representatives from U.S. Embassy Hanoi, USAID/Vietnam, MOLISA, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and representatives from related provincial departments in the meeting. The discussion focused on the scope, coordination guidelines, implementation plan, and reporting mechanism described in the draft regulation, as well as provincial coordination efforts and experience sharing from Quang Ninh and Lao Cai provinces. All attendees provided constructive feedback that EpiC and DSVP will use to develop the third draft of the regulation.
The establishment of an inter-ministerial coordination regulation is a critical step in improving services for trafficking victims with diverse needs as well as ensuring victims are received, protected, and assisted in a timely and effective manner.
