VZCZCXRO5654
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #1077/01 2620942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180942Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8485
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5127
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 001077 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI VM
SUBJECT: VIETNAM LAUNCHES ANTI-TRAFFICKING TRAINING MANUAL 
 
HANOI 00001077  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  The Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMIT 
(Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking) has 
officially launched the Government of Vietnam's (GVN) training 
manual on the prevention and suppression of human trafficking with 
participation of representatives of ministries and foreign 
organizations in Hanoi.  The training manual provides an overview of 
human trafficking and explains international and domestic legal 
documents and GVN laws and policies regarding the trafficking issue, 
as well as describing assistance available to victims.  Reactions 
among NGO and victim advocates to the new training manual are 
positive, with many applauding this latest GVN effort to provide 
relevant agencies training and insight on human trafficking issues. 
End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On August 4, the Steering Committee of Vietnam COMMITT and 
the Office of the National Steering Committee against Human 
Trafficking unveiled a training manual titled, "Inter-Agency 
Training Manual on the Prevention and Suppression of Human 
Trafficking" at a seminar in Hanoi. Participants included 
representatives of the Ministries of Public Security, Foreign 
Affairs, Labor, Justice, Vietnam Women's Union, Border Guard 
Command, and a variety of international organizations, including 
UNICEF, IOM, ILO, Save the Children UK, and UNIAP, as well as a 
number of foreign diplomatic missions. 
 
¶3. (U) The GVN undertook this effort in May 2006, with a drafting 
team consisting of government officials from the Ministries of 
Public Security, Foreign Affairs, Labor, and Justice, as well as 
representatives from the Vietnam Women's Union and the Border Guard 
Command.  The group turned to international organizations such as 
UNIAP, UNICEF, ILO, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children UK 
for input on the draft documents.  The completed training manual 
includes five chapters: 1) an overview of the human trafficking 
situation; 2) international and domestic legal documents and 
government policies regarding human trafficking; 3) investigation 
and prosecution of traffickers; 4) protection, repatriation, and 
social reintegration of trafficking victims; and 5) cooperation, 
monitoring, and evaluation of anti-trafficking activities.  The GVN 
has printed 6000 copies to be distributed to the 63 provincial/city 
Steering Committees against Human Trafficking, the Border Guard 
Command, the Vietnam Women's Union and provincial Public Security 
authorities.  Provincial and city Steering Committees will use the 
manual to conduct training workshops at the provincial and local 
levels. 
 
¶4. (SUB) The Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee 
against Human Trafficking, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Le Van Chuong, 
proudly described the training manual as a cooperative effort 
between government agencies and foreign organizations operating in 
Vietnam.  Chuong emphasized that of the six countries of the COMMIT 
-- Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar -- 
Vietnam is the only country to produce a training manual of this 
kind.  The manual showcases not only the Government's effort to 
provide relevant agencies with necessary tools to fight against 
human trafficking but also the strong support that international 
organizations have given the government in its efforts to fight 
trafficking, Chuong added. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Mr. Nguyen Van Dao, ILO National Project Coordinator, 
highlighted the importance of the training manual in improving the 
capacity of local-level agencies.  The manual will provide local 
officials a better understanding of GVN policies and efforts 
regarding human trafficking.  The manual would also help efforts to 
improve both the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators and 
the rescue, protection, and reintegration of victims into society. 
For example, the training manual helps investigating authorities 
overcome the notion that trafficking victims are criminals and 
explains how victims should be properly treated, Dao explained. 
 
¶6. (SUB) Expressing similar positive views on the newly-launched 
training manual, UNIAP National Project Coordinator Ms. Do Thi Mai 
emphasized that the manual provides a complete set of tools for 
agencies and authorities involved in anti-trafficking activities, 
providing a clear definition of human trafficking.  For example, it 
carefully lays out the difference between trafficking and illegal 
migration.  The manual also explains the legal documents, government 
policies and procedures, and the skills needed for properly 
investigating, prosecuting, and convicting traffickers, as well as 
the services needed to assist the rescue, protection, repatriation, 
and reintegration of victims. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The recently launched training manual is an important, 
tangible step.  The willingness of the GVN to bring in international 
organizations, utilize their expertise, and take on board their 
input in drafting the manual is particularly welcome and 
demonstrates that the GVN is committed to making the manual useful 
 
HANOI 00001077  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
for its intended audience.  GVN officials and NGOs agree that this 
effort will better equip local officials, departments, and agencies 
with the necessary knowledge about human trafficking issues, the 
tools to bring traffickers to justice, and the skills to help 
trafficked victims.  While challenges remain -- capacity at the 
local level remains limited -- the training manual is another 
concrete step in the right direction in the effort to combat human 
trafficking and aid its victims. 
 
MICHALAK