HumanTrafficking.org | Vietnam International Organization: Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire (AFESIP)

A web resource for combating human trafficking

Vietnam

Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire (AFESIP)

Address

Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Precaire (AFESIP)
322\39&41 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street
District 3
HOCHIMINH CITY
Vietnam

Contact Information

If calling from Vietnam:

Tel: 08 832 6523

If calling from overseas:

Tel: +84 8 832 6523

Website

http://www.afesip.org

Email

afesipvn@hcm.fpt.vn

Activities

AFESIP Vietnam has implemented the project "Support women and children trafficked for sexual slavery" in Ho Chi Minh City since 2001. So far, the components are as follows:

1. Rehabilitation

The rehabilitation center was opened, in collaboration with the Women's Union of Ho Chi Minh City, to prepare victims of trafficking for reintegration by providing:

Safe accommodation, food, clothes, hygienic and daily necessary items
Healthcare through the system of clinics and hospitals in the city
Psychological couseling
Educational and occupational training courses (sewing, embroidery, hairdressing, electronics, cooking, taxi driver, etc.)
Life skills training

Until the end of 2005, the center has received hundred of victims, of which nearly 40 successfully were reintegrated with stable job and have been offered "business starting kits".

Through the outreach activities, the team of social workers and the peer group have regularly visited prostitutes. Their aims are:

To give condoms and leaflets on the prevention of HIV/AIDS
To encourage women to give up prostitution and to offer alternative occupations
To gather information
To distribute rescue cards that provide phone numbers for the hot line and rehabilitation center.

2. AFESIP Fair Fashion

A garment factory for former residents has been established, as part of the AFESIP Fair Fashion extension based in Ho Chi Minh City. AFESIP Fair Fashion Vietnam has produced original designs and this workshop also has a Raw Material Laboratory where different types of material will be tested.

AFF Vietnam's objective is to produce high quality garments under the principles of Fair Trade, ensuring fair salaries in the local context, providing equal opportunities for all, providing health and safe working conditions (with respect to ILO standards), technical assistance and social support when necessary. Furthermore, they are committed to a democratic functioning and decision-making procedure within their internal organization.

3. Counseling office

AFESIP Vietnam, in collaboration with Committee for Population, Family and Children, has opened the counseling office, with a 24/7 hotline, to provide victims guidance and instructions for accessing legal protection, healthcare, psychological recovery and temporary safe accommodations in urgent cases before receiving more stable support.

4. Organize meeting and workshops among Vietnamese authorities and their counterparts in other countries.

AFESIP plays the role of coordinator-advisor to the National Vietnam Women's Union to organize events with other Vietnamese ministries.

Objectives:

To improve repatriation procedures to facilitate police investigations
To build up a model of comprehensive reintegration for the victims and facilitate communication among stakeholders
To implement repatriation guidelines and support development of MoU between countries

In September 2007, Georges Blanchard, director of AFESIP, received the the Recognition Medal from the Ministry of
Demography, Family and Children of Vietnam (MDFE/VN) which is given to a person that has more than 10 years commitment of activities in favor of Vietnamese, organized by the Department of the Demography, Family and Children.

Publications:

2006 AFESIP Vietnam Report