MPS hosts international consultations on victim of human trafficking identification

The workshop was attended by delegates from the National COMMIT Taskforces of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, the China Embassy in Hanoi, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the ASEAN-Australia Counter Trafficking Program (ASEAN-ACT).

Delivering his opening speech, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of Public Security underlined that the workshop aimed to reach consensus on the first minimum standard for victim of human trafficking identification of the draft transnational referral mechanisms for the greater Mekong sub-region framework, which would be an important document connecting participants involved in the identification, referral, support and repatriation of victims in order to ensure victims' rights throughout their reintegration processes.

Highly appreciating Vietnam’s effort in realizing its commitments to the COMMIT process, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam and Representative of the COMMIT Secretariat Patrick Haverman said that Vietnam had been actively performing its role in international cooperation, as well as effectively implemented cooperation agreements on combating human trafficking.

At the workshop, IOM Vietnam Chief of Mission Park Mihyung underscored that the COMMIT process had long been a pillar of regional cooperation, helping strengthen the judicial foundation, enhancing the efficiency of investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking as well as addressing deep-rooted challenges related to human trafficking of all types and protecting victims.

The workshop heard  reports and discussions during the two working days.

Accordingly, representatives of national COMMIT taskforces of countries talked about the current situation on human trafficking victim identification as well as legal internalization of victim screening and identification mechanisms in order to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation in victim identification and referral.

They also gave their first minimum standard for victim identification of the draft transnational referral mechanisms.

In addition, representatives from international organizations reported on the situation, in which victims of human trafficking are forced to commit crimes.

Later, the National COMMIT Taskforces of countries had group discussions to define criteria for victim of human trafficking identification and share contacts of their international cooperation agencies in charge of identifying trafficked victims in each country.