INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Vietnam Anti-Tip Proposals for G/Tip Fy 2008 Funding

Published: Tue 12 Feb 2008 09:32 AM
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
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