The United States appreciates Vietnam's efforts in preventing and combating human trafficking.

That is the assessment of the US State Department's Joint Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) during a visit to Hanoi, Vietnam from January 13-14 by Mr. Jonathan Turley, Deputy Director of J/TIP.

Hoa Kỳ đánh giá cao nỗ lực của Việt Nam trong phòng, chống mua bán người

Roundtable discussion between the US Department of State's Joint Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) and Vietnamese authorities on January 14 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters. (Photo: Long Vu)

During the visit, on the morning of January 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a roundtable discussion between the US Department of State's Joint Task Force on Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) and Vietnamese authorities.

Attending the roundtable discussion, on the US side, were Mr. Jonathan Turley, Deputy Director of J/TIP, J/TIP staff and the US Embassy in Vietnam. On the Vietnamese side, there were representatives from agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Supreme People's Procuracy, Supreme People's Court and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the discussion, Vietnamese authorities shared the situation and outstanding results of Vietnam in preventing and combating human trafficking in aspects such as: investigating, prosecuting, and trying human trafficking crimes; identifying victims of trafficking, including those received through border gates and returning from online fraud establishments; collecting and compiling statistics on human trafficking prevention and combat; perfecting laws on preventing and combating human trafficking; communication, capacity building; and international cooperation.

Vietnam also requested J/TIP - the agency in charge of developing the US State Department's World Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) to accurately, objectively and comprehensively assess Vietnam's efforts; hoping that the two sides will continue to maintain exchanges, dialogues and close cooperation in the spirit of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the exchange, the United States highly appreciated Vietnam for increasing its efforts to investigate, prosecute, and try human trafficking crimes, passing the Law on Prevention and Combating Human Trafficking in 2024, rescuing and repatriating Vietnamese citizens from online fraud establishments; and especially said that in the region, Vietnam is a leading country in stepping up the fight against and preventing human trafficking due to the abuse of technology to force illegal acts.

J/TIP affirms that it will closely discuss with Vietnam so that the TIP Report's assessments are truly objective and comprehensive; commits to continue supporting Vietnam, especially in the field of capacity building and cooperation in preventing and combating human trafficking in the context of online fraud. In addition, J/TIP also hopes that Vietnam will continue to strengthen the information and data system on preventing and combating human trafficking, ensuring the separation of specific criteria, promoting screening, identifying victims of trafficking and preventing forced labor and labor exploitation in the supply chain.

The US State Department's J/TIP delegation and representatives of Vietnamese authorities attended the roundtable and took a souvenir photo. (Photo: Long Vu)

Earlier on the afternoon of January 13, Director of the Consular Department Doan Hoang Minh received a delegation from J/TIP and the US Embassy.

At the meeting, Director Doan Hoang Minh welcomed the second visit and working session in Vietnam of J/TIP; shared some efforts of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preventing and combating human trafficking and implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), including the publication of the Vietnam Migration Profile 2023.

Mr. Jonathan Turley, Deputy Director of J/TIP, thanked Director Doan Hoang Minh for taking the time to receive the J/TIP delegation as well as coordinating the working schedule in Vietnam; highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in preventing and combating human trafficking and emphasized the readiness to actively coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries and sectors of Vietnam on this issue.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed specific issues of mutual interest, aiming to effectively implement the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, when the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.