US embassy cable - 04HANOI2507

UNCLAS HANOI 002507 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/TIP, EAP/BCLTV, EAP/RSP, INL/AAE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, KWMN, KCRM, ELAB, VM, OMIG, TIP 
SUBJECT: UNICEF AND MPS REPORT ON TRAFFICKING IN VIETNAM 
 
1. (U) Summary:  The Ministry of Public Security, working in 
cooperation with Cooperazione Italiana and UNICEF, released 
the government's first comprehensive statistical report on 
trafficking in Vietnam.  At the same time, the GVN and other 
agencies in Vietnam agree that "official" trafficking 
statistics are lower than actual numbers because the study 
does not correct for unreported cases.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) MPS worked with UNICEF to gather cumulative 
statistics on TIP cases through June 2003 in 17 "hot spot" 
provinces and cities throughout Vietnam:  Lao Cai, Ha Giang, 
Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Ha Tay, Bac Giang, Thanh 
Hoa, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, An Giang, Dong 
Thap, Vinh Long, Can Tho, and in two districts located at 
the border in Lai Chau Province.  UNICEF and UNODC believe 
the actual number of people being trafficked to be 
significantly greater than that mentioned in the report, but 
the report was restricted to cases the police could confirm. 
According to UNICEF, Vietnamese authorities estimate 
"thousands" of women and children are trafficked each year, 
while UNICEF China refers to Chinese reports of 
approximately 20,000 Vietnamese trafficking victims 
currently living in China.  MPS explicitly acknowledged the 
understatement in the report, noting that the methodology of 
the research restricted reporting to confirmable cases. 
 
3.  (U) According to the report, the police recorded 1758 
trafficking cases through 2003.  Of the 1758 cases, 870 
victims had returned to Vietnam, while 880 cases remained 
abroad.  From 1997 to June 2003, the number of repatriated 
victims steadily increased, with 80 cases before 1997; 83 in 
1998; 89 in 1999; 142 in 2000; 167 in 2001; and 245 in 2002 
and the first six months of 2003.  This increasing trend 
suggests the government is taking steps to see that victims 
are repatriated and that the victims are willing to report 
their situations to the police. 
 
4.  (U) Meanwhile, no trend exists for the number of people 
being stopped at the border.  The MPS reports 470 cases 
being trafficked abroad before 1998; 175 in 1998; 306 in 
1999; 245 in 2000; 196 in 2001; and 124 in 2002 and six 
months of 2003. 
 
5.  (U) Noortje Verhart of IOM Hanoi, Nguyen Hoang Oanh of 
IOOM HCMC, and Troels Vester of UNODC based in Hanoi agreed 
that the statistics understated the actual number of victims 
and traffickers in the country.  Trafficking was still a 
relatively new issue to the Vietnamese, said Vester, and 
that might account for the relatively low number of arrests. 
UNODC training of law enforcement officials in June 2004 
represented an effort to increase prosecution of TIP crimes, 
he noted.  Mrs. Oanh of IOM commented that many TIP victims 
went undetected.  They refused to report to the police 
because of the social stigma associated with sexual labor. 
 
6.  (U) Comment:  The release of the first comprehensive 
report on TIP activities in the country suggests that the 
GVN is increasing its awareness of the issue and trying to 
be more open about its efforts to combat trafficking.  The 
GVN sought the assistance of NGOs in doing the research, and 
the report was published with the help of UNICEF and 
Cooperazione Italiana, indicating that the GVN has opted to 
endure the embarrassment of a public acknowledgement of the 
trafficking problem in order to increase the effectiveness 
of its anti-trafficking efforts.  Even with international 
assistance, however, the GVN is restricted in its data 
collection to known cases.  To get a more accurate picture 
of the actual trafficking situation in Vietnam, researchers 
will need to use more sophisticated sampling and analysis 
techniques and engage in at least some extrapolation.  End 
Comment. 
MARINE