Cablegate: Vietnam Launches Anti-Trafficking Training Manual

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INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5127
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TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM LAUNCHES ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING MANUAL

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1. (SBU) Summary. The Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMIT
(Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking) has
officially launched the Government of Vietnam's (GVN) training
manual on the prevention and suppression of human trafficking with
participation of representatives of ministries and foreign
organizations in Hanoi. The training manual provides an overview of
human trafficking and explains international and domestic legal
documents and GVN laws and policies regarding the trafficking issue,
as well as describing assistance available to victims. Reactions
among NGO and victim advocates to the new training manual are
positive, with many applauding this latest GVN effort to provide
relevant agencies training and insight on human trafficking issues.
End summary.

2. (SBU) On August 4, the Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMITT and
the Office of the National Steering Committee against Human
Trafficking unveiled a training manual titled, "Inter-Agency
Training Manual on the Prevention and Suppression of Human
Trafficking" at a seminar in Hanoi. Participants included
representatives of the Ministries of Public Security, Foreign
Affairs, Labor, Justice, Vietnam Women's Union, Border Guard
Command, and a variety of international organizations, including
UNICEF, IOM, ILO, Save the Children UK, and UNIAP, as well as a
number of foreign diplomatic missions.

3. (U) The GVN undertook this effort in May 2006, with a drafting
team consisting of government officials from the Ministries of
Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Labor, and Justice, as well as
representatives from the Vietnam Women's Union and the Border Guard
Command. The group turned to international organizations such as
UNIAP, UNICEF, ILO, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children UK
for input on the draft documents. The completed training manual
includes five chapters: 1) an overview of the human trafficking
situation; 2) international and domestic legal documents and
government policies regarding human trafficking; 3) investigation
and prosecution of traffickers; 4) protection, repatriation, and
social reintegration of trafficking victims; and 5) cooperation,
monitoring, and evaluation of anti-trafficking activities. The GVN
has printed 6000 copies to be distributed to the 63 provincial/city
Steering Committees against Human Trafficking, the Border Guard
Command, the Vietnam Women's Union and provincial Public Security
authorities. Provincial and city Steering Committees will use the
manual to conduct training workshops at the provincial and local
levels.

4. (SUB) The Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee
against Human Trafficking, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Chuong,
proudly described the training manual as a cooperative effort
between government agencies and foreign organizations operating in
Vietnam. Chuong emphasized that of the six countries of the COMMIT
-- Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar --
Vietnam is the only country to produce a training manual of this
kind. The manual showcases not only the Government's effort to
provide relevant agencies with necessary tools to fight against
human trafficking but also the strong support that international
organizations have given the government in its efforts to fight
trafficking, Chuong added.

5. (SBU) Mr. Nguyen Van Dao, ILO National Project Coordinator,
highlighted the importance of the training manual in improving the
capacity of local-level agencies. The manual will provide local
officials a better understanding of GVN policies and efforts
regarding human trafficking. The manual would also help efforts to
improve both the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and
the rescue, protection, and reintegration of victims into society.
For example, the training manual helps investigating authorities
overcome the notion that trafficking victims are criminals and
explains how victims should be properly treated, Dao explained.

6. (SUB) Expressing similar positive views on the newly-launched
training manual, UNIAP National Project Coordinator Ms. Do Thi Mai
emphasized that the manual provides a complete set of tools for
agencies and authorities involved in anti-trafficking activities,
providing a clear definition of human trafficking. For example, it
carefully lays out the difference between trafficking and illegal
migration. The manual also explains the legal documents, government
policies and procedures, and the skills needed for properly
investigating, prosecuting, and convicting traffickers, as well as
the services needed to assist the rescue, protection, repatriation,
and reintegration of victims.

Comment
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7. (SBU) The recently launched training manual is an important,
tangible step. The willingness of the GVN to bring in international
organizations, utilize their expertise, and take on board their
input in drafting the manual is particularly welcome and
demonstrates that the GVN is committed to making the manual useful

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for its intended audience. GVN officials and NGOs agree that this
effort will better equip local officials, departments, and agencies
with the necessary knowledge about human trafficking issues, the
tools to bring traffickers to justice, and the skills to help
trafficked victims. While challenges remain -- capacity at the
local level remains limited -- the training manual is another
concrete step in the right direction in the effort to combat human
trafficking and aid its victims.

MICHALAK

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