Human trafficking is an important legal, human rights, and diplomatic priority for Vietnam and development partners. In Vietnam, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MOLISA) serves as the government’s focal agency for victim support, but victims of trafficking usually also engage with officials from several other ministries. Meanwhile, the roles of all ministries engaged in this process have been vague and fragmented. To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of victim support, USAID’s Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project supported MOLISA to develop a collaboration framework, which stipulates clear responsibilities and guidance for the four key ministries with roles in victim support. Additionally, this new regulation serves as a legal document to guide provincial departments involved in victim support on formal procedures and responsibilities, with adjustments allowed based on the needs of the province. On 18 July, the EpiC project supported MOLISA to host a signing ceremony where MOLISA, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed the framework. The event brought together more than 70 representatives from these four ministries, Embassies of the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, and the European Union, the International Organization on Migration, the International Labor Organization, and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.
The establishment of an inter-ministerial coordination regulation provides official guidance on the responsibilities of each ministry and creates a foundation for similar frameworks at the provincial level. Improved coordination at the national and provincial levels will help ensure that victims of trafficking receive the support, protection, and assistance they need and deserve.
