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Commune in Vietnam Fights Human Trafficking

Once known for high numbers of human trafficking victims, Bao Son Commune has nearly eliminated the problem through education efforts.

Ngo Thu Phuong gives them props for addressing a taboo topic. While most of the Mid-Autumn Festival centres on the idyllic days of childhood with moon cakes and lion dances, adolescents in the mountainous commune of Bao Son in northern Bac Giang Province celebrated by testing a very important knowledge. "What will you do if a strange woman asks you to go with her to Lang Son with promises of a good job?" a child in the jury asks of another contestant of the same age. "I would say no definitely," responds the other side.

The community has dedicated its time to fighting human trafficking, a topic not discussed much in the past, with the best possible weapon: an education. Under the moonlight and amid the din of the festival, children play together while sharing what they all know about their rights. Neighbours and local authorities in charge of the festival outline common tricks used by traffickers to raise public awareness. To award the children for correct answers, school supplies and moon cakes (which have been donated by Save the Children UK (SCUK) and Melia Hotel in Ha Noi) are doled out to eager hands. "The most significant award is that they know how to protect themselves from this social evil," deputy chairman of Bao Son People’s Committee Hoang Cong Bay says.

Startling figures
Bay considers human trafficking the headache that pains every community member – from top leaders to each rural family. "The trafficking of women and children has been an issue in Viet Nam for ten years now, but it’s only recently been brought out in the open," says Duong Thi Xuan, the head of Viet Nam Women’s Union’s propagation department. "Its far reaching and serious consequences worry everyone." Statistics from the General Department for People’s Police show that police have uncovered 2,260 human trafficking cases and apprehended 3,780 smugglers since 2000.

Between 2002 and 2004 alone they brought over 1,300 cases with 2,300 criminals to court. In 2005 police arrested 344 traffickers and rescued 449 victims. On average, the country loses 500 women and children each year who are sold to other countries, the department says. The major destinations of human traders are mainland China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. Xuan foresees the situation worsening when the country integrates into the global economy. "International economic integration will increase business exchanges and migration. People with low levels of education will be easily enticed by promises of better jobs," Xuan predicts.

She also believes the problem will further complicate since the human traders tend to use more sophisticated tricks learned through international trading experience. It’s an overwhelming evil because human trafficking does not only involve Asia – it extends to Europe and the Americas, Xuan says. According to the Viet Nam Women’s Union, most of the victims were sold abroad to be prostitutes, illegal wives or adoptive children.
Illegal immigration also makes them immediate criminals in their new countries, forcing them to live underground lives. Innate freedoms are stripped, human dignity trampled on and labour exploited, a union employee says.

Many of them return home empty-handed and in bad health. "The psychological damage is irreversible and inferiority complexes become static from the abuse they’ve suffered," Xuan says. In turn, the Government has enacted a series of laws on the issue to counter the damage, including the law on family and marriage, and the law on children protection, care and education. Most notably, a national action plan against the trafficking of women and children from 2004 to 2010 was approved, assigning ministries and agencies to execute four projects in their specialised areas.

The Viet Nam Women’s Union is currently in charge of promoting public education while the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs focuses on assisting victims with repatriation and reintegration. The Ministry of Justice was assigned to complete related law documents. A task force unit called Unit 130 was also set up in 62 provinces and cities. While these organisation try to help victims, Xuan says the crucial mission is to raise public awareness so even the most vulnerable people will be on high alert. "This issue is all about prevention," she says. "We can help by creating jobs, offering vocational training, and providing people with financial credit so they aren’t tempted by false offers."

Community initiatives
Educating the public during celebrations like the Mid-Autumn Festival is part of a project on community-based initiatives jointly implemented by SCUK and its local partners. The 2003-2005 project, executed in cross-border provinces of Bac Giang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh, involved an equal number of child and adult volunteers.
The kids were mobilised to work as volunteer educators to disseminate social knowledge and ways to protect themselves to their peers, families and community. "The project has had a very positive impact on the community, particularly in raising public awareness," says deputy chairman of Bao Son People’s Committee Hoang Cong Bay. "It’s remarkable – we haven’t uncovered any new cases over the past three years, even though our locality was once known for its high numbers of victims," the official adds. SCUK says the result is seeing similar progress in all localities thanks to the project. Bay, however, says that villagers need more work incentives to help prevent them from moving to other places to earn higher wages. "The rest depends on each person’s responsibility and awareness to protect themselves."