Scene of the launching ceremony.

Attending the launching ceremony were comrades: Tran Luu Quang, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Government's Steering Committee 138; Ha Thi Nga, member of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam Women's Union; Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security, Deputy Head of the Government's Steering Committee 138; leaders and officials of central departments, ministries, branches, and bureaus.

Delegates attending the launching ceremony.

On the Lao Cai province side, there were comrades: Dang Xuan Phong, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Vu Xuan Cuong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Trinh Xuan Truong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

President of Vietnam Women's Union Ha Thi Nga delivered the opening speech at the ceremony.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Ha Thi Nga, President of the Vietnam Women's Union, said that in recent years, the situation of human trafficking crimes in the world has become more complicated with increasingly sophisticated methods and tricks. The most recent global report on human trafficking by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) confirmed that 1 in 3 victims of human trafficking in the world is a child. Children are the subjects of many different forms of trafficking, including labor exploitation, forced crime or begging, illegal adoption, sexual exploitation and online sexual abuse.

In Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Public Security, in the first 6 months of 2024, authorities discovered and fought 50 human trafficking cases with 126 victims; 48 child trafficking cases with 121 victims. Criminals take advantage of legal loopholes in consulting, brokering marriages with foreigners, traveling, visiting relatives or taking advantage of social networking platforms, connecting, interacting with users, anonymous mode to protect sender information, approaching victims through social networks to lure and deceive.

These acts directly violate the most basic human rights, including the rights of women and children, causing endless pain to countless families and causing social instability.

As an organization representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, the Vietnam Women's Union always attaches importance to the work of caring for, educating and protecting children, implemented through the role of mothers and families. Many effective models of safety for women and children have been researched, built, piloted and replicated. A typical example is the model "Peaceful House" of the Central Union, since its establishment (2007) to date, has received temporary shelter for more than 1,700 people, including 463 victims of human trafficking, including 159 victims who are children; the model "Trusted Address in the Community"; the Happy Family Building Club... also promote effectiveness in the work of caring for, protecting and nurturing children.

Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Trinh Xuan Truong spoke at the ceremony.

In his welcome speech at the launching ceremony, comrade Trinh Xuan Truong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee emphasized that in the coming time, Lao Cai will focus on improving the effectiveness of social prevention work, such as: strengthening the effective implementation of propaganda, popularization of education and law to raise awareness and knowledge of the people about the law. Proactively grasp the situation on key routes and areas related to human trafficking activities; launch high-point campaigns to attack and suppress human trafficking crimes; strengthen international cooperation in the fight against human trafficking crimes.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said that the situation of human trafficking crimes in the world and in Vietnam will continue to be complicated and tend to increase. The strong development of the internet and social networks brings many conveniences but is also a means for human trafficking criminals to exploit to deceive and entice, especially children and people under 16 years old. Therefore, ministries, branches and localities identify the prevention and combat of human trafficking crimes as a key, continuous and persistent task that needs to be carried out everywhere and at all times. This needs to be integrated into the economic, cultural, social development program, child care, education and protection, effectively solving social security and people's security issues such as job support, income increase, poverty reduction, policy implementation in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, education, health, physical and mental development for children... In addition, it is necessary to continue promoting the role of mass organizations (civil defense, militia, protection of agencies, enterprises, schools, shock forces) to ensure security and order, protect women and children, especially in difficult areas, remote areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang spoke at the ceremony.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested press and media agencies to strengthen and disseminate information on policies, laws and methods and tricks of human trafficking crimes... Each citizen needs to proactively and actively participate in preventing, combating and denouncing human trafficking crimes; and to inform relatives, families, neighbors and neighbours about the tricks of human trafficking crimes. Ministries, branches and localities should improve the effectiveness and quality of communication, consultation, support and guidance. At the same time, it is necessary to expand the movement and innovative models of child care, education and protection in practical and appropriate forms; focus on sharing information, prevention experiences and prevention skills, thereby helping children, women and vulnerable people identify risks, protect themselves and their family members, and prevent bad guys from taking advantage of and luring them...

The Deputy Prime Minister requested that the relevant agencies resolutely implement plans and strategies to combat and prevent human trafficking crimes, especially on key routes, areas and cyberspace. Relevant parties receive, verify, handle denunciations, crime reports and recommend prosecution of human trafficking crimes; promptly investigate, prosecute and strictly bring to trial human trafficking cases. On the other hand, it is necessary to effectively manage residence; borders, border gates; industries and professions with conditional investment and business in terms of security and order; state management of adoption and marriage activities involving foreign elements; promptly detect early, remotely and from the grassroots level to prevent human trafficking crimes. Authorities proactively review, create and manage lists of children, women, and people in difficult circumstances and without support to help, manage education, support job creation, and stable income, and prevent subjects from taking advantage of, luring them into criminal activities or becoming victims.

Delegates speaking at the ceremony.

Ministries and sectors shall promptly complete the draft Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking (amended) and submit it to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 8th session (October 2024); proactively deploy conditions to ensure implementation when the Law is passed. At the same time, study, review, and evaluate the system of legal documents on victim support; study, revise, and supplement regulations related to regimes and policies for children in especially difficult circumstances, ethnic minorities, and orphans; effectively implement the work of receiving and supporting victims of human trafficking, following the principle of "taking the victim as the center". Ministries, sectors, and localities shall coordinate inter-sectoral and international cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking; especially exchanging information, supporting the verification, investigation, and discovery of cases, and arresting criminals of human trafficking, child kidnapping, and child sexual abuse. At the same time, it is necessary to review and exchange the list of subjects who have committed crimes or are suspected of committing crimes against children abroad and entering Vietnam to have solutions to prevent and stop them; mobilize resources...

At the launching ceremony, delegates made a commitment to take action to prevent and combat human trafficking and responded to the National Day for Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking (July 30).