VZCZCXRO5697
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0151 0430932
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120932Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7149
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4273
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 000151 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP, AND PRM FOR SONIA DENTZEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC ELAB KCRM PHUM PREL SMIG VM
 
SUBJECT: VIETNAM ANTI-TIP PROPOSALS FOR G/TIP FY 2008 FUNDING 
CONSIDERATION 
 
REF: 07 STATE 161287 
 
¶1. (SBU) Post recommends the following two anti-trafficking in 
persons (TIP) project proposals for G/TIP FY 2008 funding: 
 
¶I. APPLICANT:  Save the Children U.K. (SCUK) - Vietnam Office 
REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT:  US $241,682 (two-hundred forty-one 
thousand and six-hundred eighty-two dollars) 
PROJECT TITLE:  Promoting the Legal Framework and Law Enforcement on 
Human Trafficking 
PROJECT DURATION:  Two Years 
PROPOSAL ABSTRACT: At the October 2007 GVN Review Workshop on the 
National Plan of Action to Combat Human trafficking in Women and 
Children, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong noted that Vietnam 
had experienced a rise in women and child trafficking cases between 
2005 and 2006 and spoke of a "doubling" of cases. He also noted the 
close link between trafficking and poverty and the special 
vulnerabilities which children and women face in terms of being 
trafficked and forced into "prostitution, illegal marriages and 
illegal labor."  SCUK sees the importance of the improvement of the 
GVN's Penal Code, development of a Law on Trafficking and the 
ratification of the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime 
(UNTOC) and its TIP Protocol. Moreover, SCUK sees the need for a 
comprehensive approach for the protection of children.  Such a 
system would identify vulnerable children and protect them from harm 
associated with trafficking and unsafe migration.  The proposal 
comprises a two-year project to promote  and support the development 
of a strong legal framework on human trafficking on the one hand and 
 build the capacity of law enforcement and child protection 
personnel at different levels on the other for both child  and 
victim protection. Expected results by the end of year 2 include: 
a) promoted government and public awareness for a strengthened TIP 
legal framework in Vietnam, including development of a new TIP law, 
revision of the penal code and ratification of international TIP 
protocols; and b) developed capacity of GVN law enforcement and 
child protection agencies on protections and work with TIP victims 
and vulnerable children. 
 
II. APPLICANT:  The Asia Foundation (TAF) - Vietnam 
REQUESTED FUNDING AMOUNT:  US $250,353 (two-hundred fifty thousand 
and three-hundred fifty three dollars) 
PROJECT TITLE:  Strengthening the Legal Framework to Combat 
Trafficking in Vietnam 
PROJECT DURATION:  18 months 
PROPOSAL ABSTRACT:  TAF proposes to implement an 18 month, $250,353 
project in close partnership with the GVN Ministry of Justice (MOJ), 
the National Assembly (NA), and the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) that 
will facilitate drafting and passing the first comprehensive 
anti-trafficking law in Vietnam.  This project will take advantage 
of the GVN's increased commitment to combating all forms of TIP and 
TAF's years of experience and close working partnerships with 
governmental and non-governmental organizations to establish a sound 
legal framework for combating trafficking consistent with 
international standards.  Lack of a comprehensive anti-trafficking 
law in Vietnam has led to a confusing array of legal instruments 
that deal in a piecemeal fashion primarily with one aspect of the 
problem, sex trafficking of women and children.  Many other 
egregious forms of trafficking are not addressed at all.  The result 
is that those charged with preventing trafficking in their 
communities, assisting victims, and bringing traffickers to justice 
are ill-equipped to carry out their responsibilities or to make 
significant progress in stopping trafficking.  TAF has designed the 
proposed project in close consultation with the MOJ, the VWU, and 
key members of the NA.  The project will facilitate a series of 
consultations with key stakeholders in provinces with high rates of 
trafficking to enable the MOJ to assess the legal dimensions of the 
problem, foster national discussion, and generate informed 
recommendations on a new law.  At the same time, the project will 
increase awareness of NA delegates on the need for such a bill and 
encourage support for ratification. Measurable results will include: 
 a) increased capacity of the VWU, and NGOs to analyze laws and make 
recommendations on a comprehensive anti-trafficking law; b) 
increased understanding of key stakeholders of the complexity of 
trafficking in Vietnam and the legal provisions required to address 
it; c) specific and comprehensive recommendations for provisions in 
a draft law; d) a comprehensive anti-trafficking bill drafted; e) 
increased commitment of NA delegates for a comprehensive 
anti-trafficking law; and f) a broad-based constituency informed 
about and sensitive to trafficking issues. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Post has forwarded both proposals and budgetary materials 
to the G/TIP Funding Opportunities e-mail address.  Post recommends 
full funding of both of these strong proposals and stands ready to 
assist G/TIP in the evaluation and due diligence process.  Post 
thanks G/TIP for consideration of these proposals. 
 
MICHALAK