The trafficking of women and children from Vietnam - CEOP

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4. Trafficking trends in Vietnam, recruitment and debt bondage
4.1 Trafficking statistics (women and girls)
Between 2005 and 2009, approximately 6,000 trafficking victims were recognised as such.
Of these, 3,190 were identified by Chinese and Vietnamese authorities, resulting in 3,190
court cases. 8 However, approximately 40,000 9 women and children are recorded as missing
and are unaccounted for. The authorities are concerned that they may have been trafficked.
Of the certified victims, 60% escaped from their trafficking situation themselves, with 25%
being rescued by the police. The remaining 15% were repatriated or were returned as a
result of a ransom paid by their families to the traffickers. 10
60% of victims are trafficked to China, mostly from the central and northern provinces. 30%
are trafficked to Cambodia with victims mainly originating in the south. The remaining 10%
are trafficked to destinations across the world with Malaysia featuring prominently. Many
victims may also be being trafficked, or re-trafficked, to Lao PDR, but figures are not
available.
In 2005 and 2006, a study was conducted by Save the Children which interviewed a number
of trafficked returnees from 19 northern provinces in Vietnam. This study identified 78.9%
to be Kinh Vietnamese and the remaining 21.1% were composed of a number of minority
ethnicities. 11 This differs from the national average where 13.8% of the population as a
whole are ethnic minorities. The NGO Alliance Anti Traffic (AAT) confirms that large
populations of ethnic minorities live in the provinces targeted by the traffickers.
8 As stated earlier, to be recorded as a victim of trafficking, the victim has to be recognised as being trafficked
by the authorities in the destination and the authorities in the source country. In addition, the trafficker has to
be identified and prosecuted. There are also concerns that the correct offender is not always prosecuted or
that those lower down the trafficker network hierarchy are prosecuted rather than the organisers.
9 An accurate figure cannot be provided as there are no national records for missing people. Currently
relatives report missing family to the police, who may then forward information to national bodies. It is
unlikely that those who have left to find work abroad will be reported
10 MOLISA
11 Report on Assessing the Return and Reintegration of Victims of Cross-Border Trafficking. Save the Children,
Hanoi, Vietnam. February 2008
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