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Anti-Human Trafficking Program in Vietnam

Oxfam Quebec, August 2005

It is widely recognised that trafficking in persons is a gross violation of human rights. Despite various governmental and non-governmental efforts to counter human trafficking, the problem seems to be increasing at an alarming rate. In the Great Mekong Sub-Region, trafficking in women and children is a long established and complex issue often integrated with illegal migration and trans-national organised crime. In this region, the trafficking in women and children from Vietnam to China, especially the two border provinces with Vietnam, Yunnan and Guangxi, is also known as being on the rise and urgently need to addressed at both national and international levels.

In a context of increasing neo-liberal globalisation, the alarming growth of such a phenomenon engenders grave new dimensions in terms of basic human rights violation and increase rate of crime. The opening of borders and the improvement of transport infrastructure between nations, while bringing some benefits through increasing trade, has facilitated inhuman form of population movement, permitted organised syndicate groups to foster, heightened the demand for cheap labour, eased the conditions for the commodification of workers, etc. In most so-called developed countries intense neo-liberal globalisation has rather led to the creation of a fortress, where legal channel of migration have been tightly restricted. Would-be migrants who failed to meet entry criteria set by countries of intended destination therefore become illegal, giving rising to both people smuggling and trafficking, thus engendering the conditions for illegal forms of migrations that can be coupled with exploitation.

Recognising the urgency to act in front of such a situation, Oxfam family decided in 2003 to establish a joint project against trafficking in women and children in Vietnam. It has been agreed by all Oxfam affiliates in Vietnam that the issue of violence against women and children, one of its worst form being trafficking, goes hand in hand with Oxfam's Five Aims (right to sustainable livelihoods, right to basic social services, right to life and security, right to be heard and gender and equity). As one of the most active NGOs working in Vietnam, Oxfam's family has extensive resources and experience in gender policy, capacity building at grassroots level and, strong advocacy and campaigning record on human rights. Along with other governmental and non- governmental organisations, Oxfam's intervention in cross-border trafficking from Vietnam to China may have a significant impact on protecting human rights of women and children in the area.

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Anti-Human Trafficking Program in Vietnam