Excellency, Madam Mai Thi Phuong Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Judicial Committee 
Dr Samuel Juett, Judicial enforcement programme coordinator, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) (TBC)
Representatives from national and provincial agencies 
Distinguished guests,
Good morning,
Dear colleagues, 
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), it is my honour to participate at today’s consultation workshop looking at the implementation of the Trafficking in Persons Legislation.

I’d like to start by congratulating the National Assembly Judicial Committee for your leadership and coordination in this process of review and appraisal of the upcoming amendment of the Law on trafficking in persons prevention and combat (in short called TIP Law).

As Madam Hoa already mentioned, after 10 years of the implementation of the law, the time is right for the review and amendment of the law in accordance with the International Convention on Organized Transnational Crimes and its protocol of human trafficking, which Viet Nam ratified in 2012. This is an essential step to ensure Viet Nam is equipped to respond to emerging trends and risks of trafficking in persons, which disproportionally affect women and children.

All around the world, trafficking in persons poses a serious development challenge. Crises, conflicts, and the climate emergency are escalating trafficking risks. Displacement and socio-economic inequalities are impacting millions of people worldwide, and Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable. Those who lack legal status, live in poverty, have limited access to education, healthcare, or decent work, or who come from marginalized communities are often the primary targets of traffickers.

Women and girls and boys are more likely to be targeted for trafficking. They are forced into marriage, including child marriage, as well as domestic servitude and forced labour and child sexual exploitation. This not only leaves life-long scars on individuals and communities, but also stunts development and jeopardizes progress towards the SDGs.

As recognized in the latest 2023 TIP Report by the US State Department, Viet Nam has been making concerted efforts in developing and improving legal regulations and strengthening law enforcement. I highlight the Law of trafficking in persons, the revised Penal Code with provisions criminalizing trafficking in persons, as well as several bilateral agreements with neighbouring countries on combating trafficking in persons.  

I’d also like to acknowledge the efforts made in the identification and prosecution of trafficking cases in the courts as well as the development of community-based models of care for trafficking survivors.

However, this is a complex issue that requires agile and anticipatory capacities to effectively combat emerging forms of human trafficking.

These capabilities include:

• First, enhanced sectoral coordination to identify and assist victims, including migrant workers, individuals in commercial sex, child labourers and victims of cyber scam operations.
• Second, improved legal frameworks to ensure compliance with the International Convention on Transnational Organized Crimes and Trafficking in Persons Protocol, including by amending the penal code to fully criminalize sex trafficking of 16- and 17-year-old children consistent with international law. 
• And third, coherent legal implementation and law enforcement at central and local levels including on prevention measures, improving identification of victims, increasing the support of survivors, and ending impunity. Survivors should be at the centre of policies and laws to prevent and counter human trafficking, bring perpetrators to justice and provide effective access to remedies, including compensation.

Today’s review of the survey results will provide invaluable and practical contributions to the Judicial Committee to consolidate field-based evidence. Your input will help inform the appraisal of the amended law proposal and refine recommendations to the relevant agencies responsible for combatting the trafficking in persons.

As you probably know, on the 30th of July we will mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons with this year’s theme “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind”. 

“Leave no one behind” is the central, transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Goals. In the context of trafficking in persons, leaving no one behind means putting an end to the exploitation of trafficking victims, actively supporting victim-survivors once they are free from their traffickers, and ensuring identifiable groups are not vulnerable to traffickers. 

At the implementation mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, it is crucial to raise awareness and reinforce our commitments to eliminate trafficking in persons as specially mentioned in the SDG 5, 8 and 16.

Before closing, I would like also to express our sincere thanks to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) for their generous support for the project of “Strengthening response to counter trafficking in persons in Viet Nam” implemented by UNDP and national partners.

UNDP stands ready to support the National Assembly Judicial Committee and other partners to accelerate the goal of eliminating the trafficking in persons in Viet Nam.

Thank you.  

Xin cam on va chuc suc khoe.