Addressing Migrant Vulnerabilities to Prevent Human Trafficking and Protect Victims, Particularly Children, in Targeted Special Economic Zones and Economic Corridors in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam

Duration: 12 months (1/2015 – 9/2016)

Location: Tay Ninh, Quang Tri Provinces of Vietnam

Implementing partners: Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), Viet Nam Women’s Union (VWU) of Nghe An province

Donor/Funding source: Italian Development Cooperation (IDC), managed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Brief description of project/Objectives: This 12-month project aims to reduce vulnerabilities to human trafficking and to protect victims, especially among vulnerable children, in the cross-border special economic zones (SEZs) between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Specific objectives include:

• To prevent the trafficking of vulnerable migrants, especially minors, within the SEZs and economic corridors of Cambodia, Viet Nam and Laos through awareness raising in the source communities along the border. 
• To enhance the protection of vulnerable migrants, especially victims of trafficking, through capacity building of service providers as well as the provision of comprehensive direct assistance.

IOM Viet Nam will work in the prevention and protection areas with the Department of Social Vice Prevention, the Viet Nam Women’s Union and members of the interagency steering committee on anti-trafficking headed by the Ministry of Public Security in the two in Viet Nam, in the southern province of Tay Ninh close to the Cambodian border and in the central province of Quang Tri close to the Laotian border.

In Tay Ninh the project will focus on the two districts close to the SEZ at Moc Bai international border gate – Ben Cau and Trang Bang districts while in Quang Tri, the focus will only be on one district located close to SEZ at the international border gate of Lao Bao – Huong Hoa.