Viet Nam - Human trafficking may lead to complex and long-term health complications, according to new research unveiled in Vietnam today.

The study, carried out in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region by IOM and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, highlights the health outcomes and consequences of human trafficking and calls for greater emphasis on the healthcare needs of victims of trafficking.

“Research on the health consequences of human trafficking remains limited, with the health care sector often left out of integrated responses to cases of trafficking,” said David Knight, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Vietnam, speaking at a November 21st workshop in Hanoi.  “There is a clear need for the active involvement of the health sector in directing trafficking-related policy and implementation,” he noted.

Co-funded by Spanish health agency ANESVAD and IOM, the study worked with local post-trafficking support organizations and the survivors themselves. It aimed to identify the health risks, consequences and service needs of people using post-trafficking services in Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, and the resulting policy recommendations that will foster the development of integrated health policies for human trafficking responses.  

The workshop provides an opportunity for healthcare providers and other stakeholders to explore the health consequences and specific care needs of trafficked people. Policy gaps and recommendations also will be discussed.

Click here http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/free/CT_Handbook.pdf for a manual and facilitator’s guide for health care providers to be presented at the workshop.

For more information please contact:

David Knight
IOM Viet Nam
Tel: +8443736 6258 (Ext. 106)
Email: dknight@iom.int