[child-rights] Vietnamese and Chinese children share views and concerns on cross border trafficking

HANOI, 28 August 2006 -- More than one hundred Vietnamese and Chinese
children gathered today at a first-ever Children’s Forum on
cross border trafficking between Viet Nam and China. 

The historic forum provided 120 children aged 11 to 18 from the Viet
Nam-China border provinces of Guangxi, Yunnan (China), Quang Ninh,
Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Hung Yen, and Bac Giang (Viet Nam) an
official opportunity to express their views, concerns and give
recommendations on prevention of cross border trafficking of women
and children. Also participating in the forum were Vietnamese and
Chinese government officials, representatives from mass
organizations, UNICEF country offices in Viet Nam and China, and
international organizations in Viet Nam. 

The initiative was jointly implemented by the Viet Nam Women’s
Unions and All China Women's Federation with technical assistance and
support from UNICEF in response to the estimated thousands of
Vietnamese women and girls at risk of trafficking or being trafficked
to China as well as Chinese children being trafficked through Viet
Nam-Cambodia border. 

Child victims of trafficking are severely abused in many forms,
including prostitution, forced marriage and forced hazardous labor.
They also often are subjected to psychological torture, violence,
sexual abuse and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. 

“Trafficking in women and children flagrantly violates their
rights. We must respect children’s views. Children also need to
actively participate in the prevention of trafficking and combating
against this unacceptable crime. Let’s unite against
trafficking in women and children for a better future”, said
Mm. Nguyen Thi Oanh, Vice Chairperson of the Viet Nam Women’s
Union. 

Prior to the forum, children participated in a two-day workshop where
they shared their experiences and discussed the tremendously negative
impacts of trafficking on their lives. Children also voiced their
recommendations on cross-border coordination between Viet Nam and
China and gave suggestions on how to improve the prevention of
trafficking as well as the protection, care and support of child
victims. 

“Hearing the voices and stories of children of this heinous
form of abuse is a sobering reminder that there needs to be deterrent
messages, law enforcement collaboration, and international, regional
and national strategic coordination to effectively prevent and tackle
human trafficking, including the sex trafficking of girls and
women,” said UNICEF Viet Nam Representative Jesper Morch. 

The forum has made a significant contribution to improving the
capacity and role of Vietnamese and Chinese children as an important
stakeholder in the fight against trafficking in children and women.
The children’s key messages will be presented to Vietnamese and
Chinese officials and will directly feed into the development of
national strategies, policies and programs as well as the bilateral
Viet Nam-China cooperation plans and programs on prevention and
protection of child victims of trafficking. 

UNICEF in Viet Nam and China will continue to assist the relevant
ministries and organizations to effectively tackle the problems of
cross border trafficking in women and children between the two
countries. 

UNICEF Press release



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