Vietnam News Today (Jul. 29): Vietnam Makes Strides in Fight against Human Trafficking
	International Organization for Migration Commends Vietnam’s Efforts in Combating Human Trafficking

The event was organized under the framework of the project “Tackling Modern Slavery in Vietnam” (TMSV), funded by the United Kingdom’s Home Office.

Held at the Green One UN House in Hanoi, the event brought together more than 200 participants, including representatives from the British Embassy, the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the private sector, social organizations, youth leaders, and media agencies.

View of the event (Photo: IOM)

The “Harvest Day” marked the conclusion of Season 3 of the “Youth Initiative on Safe Migration and Counter-Trafficking” competition implemented by IOM Vietnam. The program places young people at the center as agents of change in anti-trafficking efforts by strengthening their capacity to design, pilot, and scale up solutions addressing the root causes of unsafe migration and human trafficking.

Over three seasons, the initiative has attracted 2,720 applications from 905 youth groups across 34 provinces and cities nationwide, demonstrating strong interest and commitment among young people to raise awareness about the risks of unsafe migration and trafficking, as well as to contribute to community-based prevention efforts.

From this pool of applicants, 212 young participants took part in intensive training courses on safe migration, counter-trafficking, communication strategy development, and business and entrepreneurship skills, enabling them to translate knowledge into action and lead anti-trafficking activities in their local communities.

In total, 100 youth-led initiatives were finalized and submitted. Of these, 31 received technical and financial support to bring their ideas to life, reaching communities in multiple localities across the country, particularly in Hai Phong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri. Supported initiatives included youth-driven employment promotion models, community development projects, and peer-to-peer communication campaigns to raise awareness about the risks of online recruitment scams, misinformation, and deceptive job offers that can lead to trafficking.

“The ‘Harvest Day’ event highlights the central role of youth in promoting safe migration and combating human trafficking,” said Kendra Rinas, Chief of Mission of IOM in Vietnam.

“When equipped with the right skills, resources, and an enabling environment, young people can deliver practical solutions that strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerabilities within their own communities,” she added.

Charles Han, Head of Immigration and Migration at the British Embassy in Hanoi, emphasized: “The UK Government is committed to working closely with the Government of Viet Nam and partners to address irregular migration and combat human trafficking. The TMSV project has supported Viet Nam in strengthening policy frameworks, enhancing capacity, and implementing communication and prevention activities. As our two countries have recently upgraded bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, our joint efforts must continue to be expanded and reinforced.”

“The active participation of young people, through their outstanding initiatives, demonstrates their role as future leaders and drivers of innovation in developing sustainable solutions,” he added.

On the sidelines of the event, an exhibition and interactive space showcased youth-led initiatives, alongside pitching sessions where teams presented their ideas before a panel of experts from the private sector and startup ecosystems. Three outstanding initiatives were honored for their tangible impact and growth potential and received additional seed funding to scale up their implementation.

Youth-led prevention efforts are playing an increasingly important role amid the complex and evolving patterns of human trafficking across the Asia–Pacific region. IOM data indicate that trafficking networks are becoming more organized and transnational, increasingly exploiting digital platforms to lure and deceive victims, with a growing number trafficked into online scam operations. Many victims are educated young people, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures that combine awareness-raising, skills development, and sustainable livelihood creation.

“Following Harvest Day, the ‘Bac HÔME’ initiative aims to develop into a scalable cultural livelihood model. The project seeks to help artisans secure more stable incomes from their own craft, thereby contributing to the reduction of unsafe migration,” shared members of the Bac HÔME youth group, whose initiative was voted the audience favorite at the event.

The youth-led initiatives form part of the TMSV project funded by the UK Home Office and implemented by IOM Vietnam in coordination with central and local authorities. Since 2023, the project has provided training, mentorship, and seed funding to youth-initiated business, entrepreneurship, and communication initiatives, contributing to national and regional efforts to address the root causes of trafficking and promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.

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