In its recently-released 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, the US Department of State mentioned Vietnam's remarkable efforts in human trafficking, but it continued to name Vietnam in the watch list for human trafficking. The report also included biased assessment that did not reflect the real situation in Vietnam.
    |
 |
|
Vietnamese authorities receive a baby sold to China. |
One important fact that the report failed to mention is that Vietnam is located in a "hot spot" of human trafficking. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), human trafficking has become complicated in the Asia-Pacific, especially the Greater Mekong Sub-region, including Vietnam, in recent years.
From 2010 to June 2021, Vietnam uncovered nearly 3,500 cases involving 5,000 traffickers and some 7,500 victims in all its 63 cities and provinces.
Over the past nearly two years, the Party, National Assembly, Government, ministries, agencies and localities have made human trafficking prevention and control a key task. The Prime Minister established a steering committee on crime prevention and control while ministries, central agencies and mass organisations have stepped up public awareness campaigns on the fight against human trafficking via various forms.
The public security forces collaborated with the border guard force to launch annual crackdowns on human traffickers nationwide and worked with counterpart in neighbouring countries to fight cross-border trafficking.
Vietnam also refined laws and enhanced international cooperation in the effort to rescue and assist victims.
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has affirmed that the Vietnamese Government advocates legal, safe and orderly migration while resolutely fighting illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Vietnam is working to build a programme on human trafficking prevention and control for the 2021-2025 period, Hang said, adding that Vietnam needs support and collaboration from countries and international organisation amid rising crimes in the region and the world.
Since the normalisation of diplomatic ties in 1995, Vietnam and the US have seen their ties growing. Vietnam always hopes for new strides in its relationship with the US. However, the US still holds inadequate outlook on the situation in Vietnam.
The spokesperson said in order to develop bilateral ties effectively, the two countries need to show good will and foster efforts for the well-being of people in each country.
Source: VNA