UNODC and Ministry of Public Security Finalizes Human Trafficking Training

Hanoi (14 May 2004) - Today the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Ministry of Public Security finalized 6 weeks of training for police officers, border army personnel, prosecutors and judges on human trafficking under the project entitled "Strengthening of the Legal and Law Enforcement Institutions in Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Persons in Viet Nam".

Four one-week training courses were conducted in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, HCMC and Tay Ninh on investigation techniques, methodology, victim protection, mutual legal assistance, international cooperation and the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementing Protocols on Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants. Furthermore, two one-week Train-the-Trainer courses were conducted in Hanoi and HCMC to build up capacity among law enforcement officers and the judiciary to conduct 10 national training courses later this year.

During the training courses, a report entitled "Assessment of the Legal System in Vietnam in comparison with the United Nations Protocols on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime" was launched and distributed to the participants of the training. The report was drafted by the Ministry of Justice in collaboration with UNODC and UNICEF.

Trafficking in persons is seen as an increasing phenomenon in Viet Nam and the two main destinations, which have emerged so far, are China and Cambodia. Although there is no accurate information available about the exact magnitude of the problem, the Government considers it to be one of the most serious crimes to be addressed.

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