United Nations in Viet Nam

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Viet Nam.

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14 December 2020

Sex workers must not be left behind

Sex workers are exposed to gender-based violence easily as a consequence of social stigma and illegal status of sex work. “Once, a client kept me in a room for 2 hours forcefully. He beat me up.” memorized by An (not her real name), a street-based sex worker in Viet Nam. “I cannot report to the police because sex work is illegal.” Spending all her time making a living, she did not have any information where she could turn to for getting support. Her family didn’t know her occupation. So, she kept the traumatizing experience to herself only. An is the breadwinner supporting the livelihood of her mother and a 5-year-old son. COVID-19 has hit the poorest and the most vulnerable the hardest. During the social distancing policy, only three regular clients. She begged her clients to pay an extra 50,000 VND on the 100,000 VND fee each time. Yet, the house rent and utilities still cost her 1.2 million VND monthly. Her meager earnings can hardly support their living expenses and her son’s school fee. Fortunately, her son’s school principal and their landlord were aware of their hardship. They allow An to pay back the fees when her financial condition improves. Up till now, An is still struggling to earn a sufficient income to support her family. Thuy (not her real name) faces a similar situation in the other province in the Mekong Delta. Due to the financial difficulties of her family, Thuy dropped out of her junior high school to work. She is now a single mother of a three-year-old and a six-year-old. She works as a sex worker and part-time housemaid. The clients at sex work pay her 150,000 VND each time, but Thuy needs to pay for the room and condoms. Taking care of her children, she cannot spare much time working and earning money. In early 2019, Thuy encountered an offer. “The people promised me to get a well-paid job in China,” said Thuy. After her neighbor agreed to take care of her children, she followed those people to China, wishing for better incomes. She revealed, “In China, I was kept in a house and forced to sell sex.” Thuy was trafficked to China for six months. Thuy was rescued thanks to a joint effort of public security forces and returned to Viet Nam in December 2019. Life in her hometown became even more challenging. Thuy bitterly shared, “I become notorious because people in my community spread rumors behind me. Most people were not willing to get close to me.” Shortly, the COVID-19 health crisis and destructive typhoon further halted her sources of income. “Struggling to feed my two children, I started asking for rice everywhere, sometimes in the pagodas, sometimes at the tea stalls along the pavement.” said Thuy, who is looking pale and drawn. “I have even thought of committing suicide. Life is too harsh to me.” The social and economic fallout from the pandemic disproportionately affected the livelihood of sex workers. The risk of violence against them has raised. Due to stigma, discrimination, and illegal status of sex work, it’s usually very difficult for sex workers to access social protection in case of violence. Everyone, including sex workers, is entitled to work decently with dignity and safety. Collective efforts are needed to protect sex workers from violence. The United Nations, joining other organizations* supporting the rights of sex workers, calls for zero discrimination against for sex workers and equal access to health care and social support for every people. *The sex workers featured in this story have been reached by the Viet Nam Network of Self-help Groups of Sex Workers (VNSW) and received joint support from UNAIDS and VNSW for mitigation of the impacts of COVID-19

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Press Release

12 May 2020

Việt Nam’s COVID-19 crisis response can increase opportunities for the country to emerge as a leader at regional and global levels

In addition to carrying out its significant and important responsibilities as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2020-21 period and as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Việt Nam has, so far, done remarkably well in responding to COVID-19 by deploying a series of early, proactive, consistent and effective strategies. However, real challenges still remain, including on the socio-economic front and in terms of building back differently and better while staying on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN stands ready to continue to support Việt Nam as it seeks to meet these challenges and achieve its ‘new normal’. Việt Nam had prepared well in advance for its heavy and challenging political responsibilities in the global arena in 2020. In January, Việt Nam began its rare twin-responsibilities of being both a rotating non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (for 2020-21) and the ASEAN Chair for 2020 simultaneously. The country was immediately thrust into the global spotlight while assuming the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of January for alphabetical reasons. Leading the Security Council in its discussions and resolutions on such sensitive matters as the Libyan peace process, and continuing conflicts in Syria and Yemen, Việt Nam skillfully navigated challenging, tricky waters on the world stage. The highlight of the month was an open debate in early January, presided by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh, at which UN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, and to an international order based on international law as the indispensable foundation of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. The crux of the discussion was to emphasise the importance of multilateralism and global solidarity. The message from this open debate at the Security Council chaired by Việt Nam resonates more than ever now, at the time of COVID-19. As Việt Nam was embarking on its ambitious goals at the regional and global levels, COVID-19 appeared in the country on January 23. Việt Nam then sprang into action. Its early, proactive, consistent, robust, strategic and effective measures to contain two phases of the virus have, so far, resulted in less than 300 cases of confirmed infections, zero deaths, and over an 80 per cent recovery rate, despite sharing a long land border with China which was the original epicentre of COVID-19. Nonetheless, the pandemic has been ruthless in its disruption of the global economy, and Việt Nam, which is significantly integrated into global value chains, has already experienced the initial impacts of this. Yet, Việt Nam thus far appears to have been able to largely flatten the epidemic curve without exhibiting a steep economic impact curve because of a combination of its effective measures with respect to the pandemic, the provision of a US$2.6 billion social protection cash package for vulnerable population groups, and a relatively quick, yet measured, return to near normal once the outbreak was largely contained last month. I congratulate the people and the Government of Việt Nam on their tremendous achievement in responding to and addressing the crisis thus far. At the same time, I must emphasise that there are still many real challenges the country faces both immediately and in the coming months. They include avoiding another significant wave of infections, minimising the severity of the negative economic impact, and kick-starting the socio-economic recovery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, whilst taking care of the most vulnerable and leaving no one behind. I would like to think that by leveraging its successful response so far, at least some of the challenges and difficulties caused by COVID-19 can be turned into real opportunities, through which Việt Nam, through a whole-of-political system and whole-of-society approach, transforms the crisis into a better future for its citizens, especially the most vulnerable, emerging as a leader at both regional and global levels in the post-COVID-19 world. Allow me to focus on a few key priorities at this critical juncture. First, strengthening health systems needs to remain the top priority. The Government of Việt Nam is now better prepared for any eventuality regarding COVID-19 than it was in January, with its public health sector having performed impressively thus far. In light of the unpredictable nature of the virus, however, we must all remain vigilant and take all possible preventive measures. While taking care of the crisis on the domestic front, Việt Nam has provided PPE and medical supplies to a number of countries, in particular in Europe, and also made a generous contribution to the WHO, which I have warmly welcomed. There are many lessons from Việt Nam’s COVID-19 response which should be shared with the rest of the world on how to contain pandemics and infectious diseases based on both its previous SARS and now COVID-19 experiences. The WHO and the UN as a whole are prioritising sharing its good practices in this area. Second, Việt Nam needs to prioritise both its socio-economic recovery and building back differently and better. Like in other parts of the world, the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 may be felt in Việt Nam for a long time. Since the country is about to score a victory over the second wave of COVID-19, the road to full socio-economic recovery should become the real focus in the immediate weeks and months. In light of the disruptions in global supply chains and international trade, on which it significantly depends, Việt Nam could consider taking urgent system-wide measures, such as increasing financial support for domestic micro, small and medium enterprises to enable them to remain solvent and reduce unemployment. Priority should be placed on those that can provide both significant formal employment and domestic value-added backward linkages for key strategic global supply chains prioritising in green technologies and agricultural value-added industries in which Việt Nam has clear competitive advantages. Consideration should also be given to temporary tax and fiscal measures which encourage employment and labour intensive public investment. It will be a major achievement if Việt Nam can continue to keep the epidemic curve flat whilst simultaneously avoiding a steep economic recession curve. This is a realistic possibility in its case which cannot be said for most countries in the world. If it is able to achieve this by end-2020, Việt Nam will once again show itself to be a regional and global leader. All of this must be done whilst ensuring that the most vulnerable sections of society, who may have been hit hard in the last few months, are not further left behind. Crucially, this COVID-19 crisis cannot be allowed to further increase inequalities and reverse the progress Việt Nam has made over the last few decades to combat extreme poverty and advance gender equality. Together with the Government, the UN is also committed to continuing to push forward towards achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring that all Vietnamese people fully enjoy their fundamental rights. In the medium- to long-term, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Việt Nam will also need to respond to the non-COVID urgent crises which it faces, such as addressing the complex causes of drought and salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta by enacting long-term sustainable development changes which mitigate the effects of climate change and move the country towards a more inclusive, renewable energy-based greener economy. Based on the UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19, which was launched by the UN Deputy-Secretary-General in late April, the UN stands ready to make its wide array of expertise available to the Government and people of Việt Nam in support of their efforts to ‘build back better’ and bounce back strongly. At the regional level, I have observed that Việt Nam is showing its keenness to lead ASEAN towards recovery and stability. As the ASEAN Chair, as soon as the impact of COVID-19 was felt, Việt Nam began leading a series of ASEAN meetings, and held a virtual ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Plus Three Summit on 14 April to strengthen regional cooperation, and more importantly, catalyse co-operation on the post-pandemic economic response and recovery. Specifically, a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund for public health emergencies will be established under its leadership, and a regional stockpile of medical supplies will be set up for future epidemics. Its role at the regional level builds on the second open debate at the UN Security Council Việt Nam presided over in late January. This focused on ASEAN-UN co-operation for the first time, including peaceful settlement of disputes, preventive diplomacy, disarmament, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and maritime co-operation. The debate touched on such issues as the East Sea (South China Sea) and the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, as well as the importance of the SDGs and their interlinkages with peace and security. Given its dual regional and global roles in 2020, and also because it appears to be coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of many other countries, Việt Nam is in a position to play a leading role both at regional and global levels, bringing synergy and cohesiveness between ASEAN and the UN in tackling some of the most critical and sensitive issues which intersect both levels. This year, we are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN. Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated more vividly than any other issue why we need global co-operation and solidarity anchored in the United Nations. The issue is not whether we need the UN, but how we can strengthen, and yes, reform it - to meet the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century. The UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit Việt Nam in November to attend the ASEAN Summit and related summits. I sincerely hope that the November visit will provide an opportunity for Việt Nam, ASEAN and the UN to strengthen their commitment to multilateralism and global solidarity in a tangible manner, reinforcing Việt Nam’s role in the region and allowing it to make even greater contributions to the rest of the world, given its rich experiences and many successes both recently and over the last few decades. *Kamal Malhotra is UN resident co-ordinator in Việt Nam Original Op-ed published on Viet Nam News: https://bit.ly/2SXpzUD

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18 November 2020

The UN in Viet Nam dragon boat promotes One UN Spirit for UN75 and Sustainable Development Goals

In November, the weather in Viet Nam turns cooler in the northern provinces allowing people to enjoy outdoor activities after a long and hot summer. The 2020 Dragon Boat Race was organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee on 14 November 2020 calling both amateur and professional paddlers and athletes to compete in the West Lake – one of the signatures of Hanoi. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, UN staff in Viet Nam organized a dragon boat team to represent the United Nations in the amateur race and promote Sustainable Development Goals. Comprised of 14 members of six nationalities from seven UN agencies, the team practiced during weekends and early in the morning to come together as One UN and paddle in harmony. “The most important thing in dragon boat is that you must paddle together in sync to give it the speed. You can have 10 physically fit people, but the boat will not go forward unless you are paddling as if you are one person. It’s just like how different UN agencies are working together for the same goal of supporting Viet Nam,” said Tran Quynh Hoa, ILO Communications Officer who initiated the idea and a regular rower. The core message of the United Nations in 2020 has been solidarity and global cooperation. The Secretary-General reiterated the message in his speeches for the General Assembly and many High-Level events that there is no way for the world to overcome global challenges and the pandemic without putting the people at the center calling for stronger and greater solidarity to overcome global crises and to build back better. “I am very proud of our One UN team who participated in the Race, and it shows that we are more beautiful and stronger together. We are all set to help Viet Nam achieve SDGs by 2030!” said Kamal Malhotra, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam. “I am glad that we could represent the United Nations and promote SDGs to the public who joined and observed the race. I believe the team manifested solidarity and how a group of people from different nationality, background and organization can come together to fight for a common goal. And we had a lot of fun together as One UN Dragon Boat Team,” said Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative and Chair of UN Communications Group who joined the team as drummer. Naomi was wrapped in SDGs flag to bring more visibility to the team. In previous years, the city had organized the Dragon Boat Festival for both national and international teams to join. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city only invited teams in Viet Nam to stimulate domestic tourism and promote the spirit of culture and sports for local Vietnamese to participate and enjoy. As of 14 November, Viet Nam had gone almost 90 days without local transmission of COVID-19. More photos can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSbHRBa

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05 October 2021

Setting an example for women in Southeast Asian law enforcement

Bangkok (Thailand) and Hanoi (Viet Nam), 29 September 2021 - Law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia remain heavily male-dominated organizations. A report published in 2020 by UNODC, UN Women, and Interpol found that women make up between 6% and 20% of law enforcement officers in the region, falling well short of gender parity. UNODC and its partners are encouraging police forces in Southeast Asia to better reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Despite important contributions, women face barriers to meaningful inclusion in policing in Southeast Asia. Ta Thi Bich Lien, UNODC Programme Officer, attributes this to traditional gender roles: “stereotypes prevent women from pursuing careers in law enforcement because it is seen as dangerous and difficult. This limits opportunities for us to work in policing.”

Significant inequities also persist between female officers and their male colleagues, with women often placed in administrative positions instead of in decision-making roles or as first responders. According to Valentina Pancieri, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator and a former police officer, “equality is about more than achieving a gender balance. Women should be well represented at all ranks to meet people’s needs.” Women’s participation in law enforcement improves police services and enhances operational effectiveness. UNODC has found that agencies with more representative workforces benefit from higher levels of trust from the populations they serve. Felipe De La Torre, UNODC Regional Programme Coordinator, has remarked that “female first responders are better equipped in certain circumstances, particularly to female victims of trafficking, domestic abuse, and sexual violence who feel they can confide in them. UNODC is working with its partners to support female officers and encourage more women to join their ranks to help improve justice outcomes.”

Recognizing the importance of equality, UNODC is prioritizing achieving gender parity through its programming and within its own ranks. The Southeast Asia Border Management Programme has a gender-balanced team, and in Thailand and Vietnam Programme Officers Suchaya Mokkhasen and Ms. Lien set an example for governments and other UN agencies. According to Captain Ta Viet Duong of the Vietnam People's Police Academy (PPA), “the representation of women in UNODC is well-regarded by the PPA and plays an important role in encouraging gender equality in policing.”

Ms. Lien and Ms. Mokkhasen receive a warm reception from counterparts they work with, but at the same time they have noticed that women are treated differently in law enforcement circles. Both often travel to distant border crossings which are almost exclusively patrolled by male officers. Ms. Mokkhasen has found that “as a woman, I am not ‘supposed’ to travel to remote areas. Officers are often surprised when I follow them onto a muddy riverbank, but I do so and show that women can work in frontline areas alongside men.”

Ms. Lien and Ms. Mokkhasen also stress the importance of women supporting each other in the workplace. By sharing knowledge with junior staff, senior female officers make law enforcement agencies more inclusive. Major Mac Xuan Huong of the Vietnam People's Police Academy has dedicated her career to the protection of women and girls: “as a young woman I aspired to join the police. Now, I share my experience and skills with a new generation of female and male officers as an instructor in an effort to prevent crime, human trafficking, and sexual abuse.” The examples set by female mentors are important to women at the beginning of their careers. When Ms. Mokkhasen worked for the Thai Department of Special Investigations before UNODC there were few women in operational positions or at the decision-making level: “young women want to pursue careers in law enforcement, but they will not choose to if they do not see an upward path. Keep a positive spirit and be confident, and you will make a good impression.”

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01 September 2021

UNODC expands work with law enforcement academies in Southeast Asia to mitigate long-term impacts of COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt social and economic life, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has adapted how it delivers and is adopting new strategies to train law enforcement officers across Southeast Asia. Prior to the pandemic, experts and international trainers typically travelled between countries to deliver workshops and facilitate mock operations and practical exercises. However, as governments throughout the region have enforced strict closed borders and introduced limitations on in-person gatherings to limit the spread of COVID-19, UNODC has explored and developed new approaches to reach and assist counterparts.

Through agreements with national law enforcement academies, UNODC’s border management programme has established state-of-the-art training rooms to conduct professional development workshops, and is regularly delivering advanced training courses addressing illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime. These partnerships have offered UNODC and key institutional partners a sustainable and effective training model which invests in national expertise, and that provides a well-equipped learning environment for frontline officers. Central to the partnership model is the professional development of instructors themselves. Following agreement with an academy, UNODC delivers an instructors’ development course for national trainers based on a series of UNODC developed modules on specialized investigation techniques. The series of ‘core curricula’ modules —available in English, Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese—are designed around the responsibilities of, and fundamental skills required by, junior, mid-ranking, and senior officers, and cover a range of topics related to investigating various types of transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. Following the completion of ‘training-of-trainers’ workshops, instructors deliver lessons themselves, ensuring critical information and skills reach officers throughout the ranks of law enforcement agencies in the region.

“Our partnerships with training academies are about providing sustainable platforms for member states to achieve results,” said Valentina Pancieri, UNODC Regional Coordinator for the Border Management Programme. She added, “the ability to pass on knowledge and skills this way ensures we have an impact on a workforce and not a single group of students.” UNODC has established partnerships with three academies—two in Viet Nam and one in the Philippines— and has completed extensive training-of-trainers workshops at the Viêt Nam Customs School and the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy. Importantly, previously trained instructors from the Viêt Nam Customs School lead sessions alongside international trainers during training with the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy, using the skills they developed during the earlier workshop. Agreements with academies in Thailand and Cambodia are now in-place and courses are scheduled in the coming months.

“We have acquired a lot of knowledge and learned skills related to in-class instruction as well as specialized investigation techniques, including crime scene investigation, surveillance, managing controlled deliveries and using technology such as GPS trackers,” remarked Major Mac Xuan Huong, of the Viêt Nam Criminal Police Department. “The core curricula is very helpful and I will be using it and applying the lessons learned when instructing my students at the People’s Police Academy.” UNODC will continue to expand partnerships with training academies throughout 2021 and 2022 for professional development and regional cooperation, and is developing specialized curricula on specific topics and crime types. The regional border management and cybercrime programmes are working with partner academies in Viêt Nam to develop curricula on digital evidence analysis and cybercrime investigations for national instructors to deliver at the Customs School and People’s Police Academy, and the regional precursor programme is developing curricula to enhance knowledge and skills for precursor chemical investigations.

“We know from our experience here in Southeast Asia that law enforcement agencies need a shared understanding of challenges and solutions. Training following a common core curriculum can in many respects provide this foundation – in a sense it means trainers and trainees start to share a common language around the issues they work on” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “More effective and cooperation and coordination follows, and it leads to operational outcomes.”

As UNODC’s network of partner academies grows in Southeast Asia, so too will the opportunity for cooperation between academies and law enforcement officers. The use of a shared core curriculum will, over time, create similar perceptions between law enforcement agencies in the region.

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23 August 2021

Strengthening Border Management in Viet Nam to Counter Transnational Organized Crime

Transnational organized crime presents a serious threat to security and stability in Southeast Asia and neighboring regions, harming the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, compromising and undermining economic development. Over the past decade, the security landscape in Southeast Asia has transformed. Historical patterns of transnational organized crime have accelerated, and new illicit markets have emerged, together generating billions of dollars each year for criminal organizations. In this changing environment, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working with member states in Southeast Asia to counter this threat to regional security. Of the various types of illicit trafficking affecting Southeast Asia, the illicit drug trade is the most significant challenge today. The illicit drug market in Southeast Asia is the world’s largest, with production and trafficking estimated to be worth over US$70 billion in 2019. The regional drug trade has continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic despite border closures and strict travel restrictions intended to stop the spread of disease; the volume of methamphetamine seized in Viet Nam and other lower Mekong countries rose 19% over the previous year in 2020.[1] Viet Nam is utilized to be an transshipment point for criminal organizations,. Traffickers smuggle narcotics and other illicit goods across Viet Nam’s land borders with Cambodia and Lao PDR before shipping contraband overseas through the country’s major ports. “There is a change in the movement of illicit drugs trafficking in the region,” said Ms. Valentina Pancieri, Regional Coordinator for UNODC’s Border Management Programme in Southeast Asia. “Since 2019, to cope with law enforcement in the border areas of Myanmar and Thailand, criminals have again changed their routes. Illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin have been transported through Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, which shows that Vietnam is not only a drug market but also a transit that the criminals take advantage to traffick drug to third countries.” The challenges authorities in Viet Nam face at border crossings are two-fold: mechanisms for coordinating investigations into transnational crime are underdeveloped, and the technical capacity of law enforcement agencies is limited. As a result, drug trafficking frequently goes undetected and investigations often end at national borders, culminating in individual arrests and seizures instead of trafficking rings and more significant disruptions to regional criminal networks. To address these challenges, Viet Nam and neighboring countries in the Mekong basin cooperate to strengthen border management practices through the Regional Border Liaison Office (BLO) Network. With technical and policy support from UNODC, the Regional BLO Network has supported counter-drug trafficking efforts in the region since 1998 by providing a platform for real-time information sharing between cross-border counterparts and regional cooperation and facilitating technical capacity building activities for law enforcement officers. In addition, this network enhances the cooperation in combating against crime and drug trafficking across borders. In Viet Nam, the Counter Narcotics Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) cooperates with UNODC, domestic counterparts, and foreign governments to address illicit trafficking at border crossings and the regional level. At operational BLOs, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with mandates related to transnational organized crime—anti-narcotic police, criminal police, environmental police, customs, immigration, border guards, forestry enforcement, etc.—work together to share intelligence, coordinate investigations, and collect information related to illicit activity. With members from different agencies, twenty-one BLOs in Viet Nam currently support effectively in conducting operations along the nation’s borders and cross the borders to interdict and prevent drug trafficking along high-risk routes. For instance, in February 2020, officers at a BLO in Sepon district worked with their cross-border counterparts from Lao Bao BLO, in Lao PDR, to support in arresting drug traffickers, seize 6,800 methamphetamine tablets, and to expand an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the area.[2] At the regional level, the BLO network provides a forum to convene regional stakeholders and advance the policy dialogue on border management issues by convening regular workshops and consultations for governments represented in the network. At these meetings, delegates from BLOs and central authorities discuss challenges and share best practices among network to advance new policy solutions. In this way, the BLO network supports the strategic objectives of the ASEAN Political – Security Community by enhancing counter drug trafficking through improved border management practices. UNODC and its regional counterparts, including MoPS, also mobilize the BLO network to build the capacity of frontline border officers. Officers from new and existing BLOs participate in regular trainings, cross-border workshops, and joint patrols to develop their technical ability. UNODC has also sponsored a number of national and international study tours for officers from Viet Nam to share best practices with foreign and domestic counterparts. Recently, UNODC has broadened its training approach to partner with national training academies in the region, including the Customs School and People’s Police Academy in Viet Nam. This effort aims to enhance the training offered to frontline officers of all ranks to place a greater emphasis on capacity building for investigation related to transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. In addition to offering training to frontline officers directly and through national academies, UNODC provides material support to new and existing BLOs in Viet Nam to enhance law enforcement operations at border crossings. It supports the expansion of the network and maintenance of existing locations, including providing officers with state-of-the-art technical equipment such as drug and precursor testing kits, crime scene investigation materials, and surveillance equipment. According to Major General Do Duc Binh, Deputy Head of Vietnam Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes, MoPS, “criminals are likely to take advantage of modern information technology, which makes criminal prevention more difficult. It is important to have modern equipment to support border officials in effectively detecting and preventing transnational organized crimes in the border areas.” Although illicit activity has been implemented in border management in the region, there is an increasing trend of transnational crime with complexity and unprecedented risk. . By cooperating with regional partners and UNODC, MoPS, and the government of Viet Nam are working to ensure the region’s borders are protected from illicit trafficking. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) works with countries to make the world safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. UNODC is the guardian of the United Nations drug conventions: the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). UNODC’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) in Bangkok, Thailand serves as the hub for the organization’s activities in the region, including for programmes addressing transnational organized crime, alternative development, drug demand and harm reduction, criminal justice reform, and counterterrorism. Through these efforts, UNODC works with various government counterparts to advance the UN’s sustainable development agenda. Based in ROSEAP, the Regional Border Management Programme was created to address the unique threats faced by governments in Southeast Asia—namely high rates of criminal activity and limited mechanisms for cross-border coordination—and has had an ongoing influence on security policy in the region. Through the Border Management Programme and BLO Network, UNODC supports law enforcement operations at frontline border crossings and contributes to policy dialogue on issues related to border management in the region. Vietnam joined the BLO network in 2000. At present, UNODC has supported the establishment of establish 21 BLOs in Vietnam along the country’s borders with Cambodia, China, and Lao PDR. [1] UNODC report 2021 “Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: latest developments and challenges” [2] Source : Quảng Trị: Triệt phá vụ vận chuyển 6.800 viên ma túy tổng hợp | baotintuc.vn

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13 August 2021

Youth Participation – the power of young people towards SDGs achievements

“Vietnamese young people are the key agents for change and innovation towards the achievements of sustainability, resilience and leaving no one behind” is the message, which was sent out to young people from all walks of life in Vietnam at the celebration of the International Youth Day 2021. It was organized jointly by the United Nations in Viet Nam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on 12 August 2021. Under the theme: “Youth participation: The power of young people towards SDGs achievement”, Vietnamese young people joined a virtual discussion on the implementation of the 2020 Youth Law and young people’s meaningful participation and contributions to the national sustainable development process, regardless of sex, disabilities, social and economic status, location, ethnic background or sexual orientation. Live-streamed at the fan-pages of the UN in Vietnam and the HCM Communist Youth Union, the International Youth Day 2021 acknowledged the contributions of young volunteers and activists who are pushing for positive change, and amplified young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement. The young participants also shared their views on the 2020 Youth Law, the rights and responsibilities of all young people including vulnerable groups of youth as well as obligations of the responsible entities to meet their rights. They strongly confirmed that Vietnamese young people including vulnerable groups of youth, for example ethnic minority youth, young migrant workers, young people with disabilities, young LGBTQIA+ and young people aged 16-18 are the key agents for change and innovation towards the achievements of sustainability, resilience and leaving no one behind. H’Hen Niê, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, a dynamic and energetic young volunteer, shared her experience when providing support to doctors and nurses as well as local people during the COVID-19 social distancing measures: “I voluntarily join the city’s young artists and people to support the doctors and nurses and the communities. I want to make some modest contributions to the fight against COVID-19. I think I have changed a lot these days. At this moment, I consider myself a volunteer. I’m neither a Miss Universe nor a celebrity. I perform the tasks wholeheartedly no matter how hard it is. Compared to what the health workers are doing now, my hardship is nothing. I call on all young people to think positively and find innovative ways to support our communities, be it a physical or a spiritual contribution. Let us unite and together we will win in the fight against COVID-19 and together we will contribute to the sustainable development of our communities and our country as a whole.” In his opening speech, Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union confirmed that the power of young people and their actions are the nation’s treasures. He said: “The youth is a large social force, one of the most important elements determining the future and the destiny of the nation. Young people are the major force in many areas, who are responsible for many works that require sacrifice, hardship, good health and innovation. In the most vibrant ages physically and psychologically, young people are always dynamic and creative, with strong self-assertion.” Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Vietnam and Chair of the UN Thematic Group for Adolescents and Youth in Viet Nam, reaffirmed in her opening speech that young people’s unique and crucial roles in policy and decision-making processes at local, national, regional and international levels. She said: “The United Nations in Viet Nam acknowledges the efforts of the Government in providing adolescents and youth with opportunities to design, participate in and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. The approval of the revised Youth Law by Vietnam’s National Assembly during its 14th session in June 2020 is one of the greatest strides for Viet Nam to ensure young people’s roles, responsibilities and rights in the national development process. The Youth Law explains young people’s participation; states clear responsibilities of the Government; the Viet Nam National Youth Committee and other organizations, and ensures the allocation of the state budget for the implementation of the Youth Law. Moreover, specific policies to support young people from ethnic minorities and those aged 16 to 18 were included in the policy provisions.” Youth engagement is important because in every single thematic area of policies that need to be made, there are always ways to incorporate youth issues and reflect voices of young people. This is particularly critical when Viet Nam is currently benefiting from the demographic window of opportunity called “demographic bonus,” in which the country has the largest number of young people in its history. The right investment in young people is a must to accelerate socio-economic growth of Viet Nam.

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Press Release

26 October 2021

New report uncovers Viet Nam’s significant progress and barriers to gender equality and puts forth a robust agenda for the Nation to shift gears

This report is the first-of-its-kind in Viet Nam. It takes a broader lens on gender equality to include discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation, and to highlight data relevant to intersectional identity – such as ethnicity, disability and age, etc. Opening the launching event of the report, Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women in Viet Nam, said “This report’s analysis underlines that gender equality is intrinsic to the very quality, durability, and advances made to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development. Therefore, unless progress on gender equality is significantly accelerated, the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved. This is an urgent call for action, and the report recommends the directions to follow.” Conducted over the course of a year, the Viet Nam Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP) represents the collective knowledge, advice, and dedication of many agencies and individuals, combining national and international expertise. This multi-agency effort has identified gender issues and disparities in every sector under examination: governance, labor, agriculture, business, transport and connectivity, urban development, family life, social protection, migration and climate change. Speaking at the launch, Australia’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Robyn Mudie said “we have invested in this data collection because of a belief in the power of evidence – to stimulate debate, and drive policy, services and opportunities. For Australia, the 16 Key Recommendations describe where we should focus our gender equality partnership with the Government of Viet Nam, and where we can support groups who face complex, intersecting disadvantage.” Mr. Andrew Jeffries, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Viet Nam commented on how the CGEP will contribute to promoting gender equality in Viet Nam when he said: “Accelerating progress in gender equality is one of the ADB’s operational priorities under ADB’s region-wide Strategy 2030, and we are very pleased to see that the report in particular covered gender analysis in our operational areas in Viet Nam, such as the environment, and urban and rural development. ADB works to finance infrastructure and services so they are more accessible, affordable and safer for users and beneficiaries, including for Vietnamese women and girls. We will continue to work with the Government and development partners to promote gender equality in Viet Nam.” This report was finalized as Viet Nam was responding to its fourth wave of COVID-19 and, unfortunately, sex-disaggregation of the official case numbers are not available. However, unlike previous global public health and financial crises, COVID-19 has been singularly detrimental for women and girls, and has exposed gendered fault lines in the economy and social structures. “The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally hit women in Viet Nam and exacerbated the persistent gender gaps in the labour market. For instance, this report shows that women’s labour force participation rate fell more than men’s, widening the gender gap slightly to 10.8 per cent,” said Ms. Nguyen Hong Ha, Officer-in-Charge of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Viet Nam. She went on to say, “As Viet Nam is now focusing on building forward the economy and society from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an opportunity to build forward fairer by placing gender equality at the core of the recovery efforts and putting in place gender-responsive strategies.” The report provides a wide range of recommendations for change, highlighting three key areas of action: (1) Strengthening the implementation of existing gender equality commitments; (2) Addressing the underlying barriers to gender equality; and (3) Driving gender equality progress in the coming decade. Viet Nam Country Gender Equality Profile aims to serve as a primary source of evidence to drive the prioritization of financing, programming and advocacy to advance gains and overcome bottlenecks to gender equality in Viet Nam. It is intended that the CGEP will also contribute to Viet Nam’s monitoring of gender equality-related targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The report and its executive summary are available at THIS LINK.

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Press Release

19 October 2021

IOM Viet Nam Launches Qualitative Research on Risks of Exploitation Encountered by Vietnamese Migrant Workers

Labour migration is an integral part of Viet Nam’s overall development, reflected in growing remittance flows, alleviation of domestic labour market pressure, and skills transfer. However, gaps in regulatory oversight of recruitment agencies, as well as limited administrative and criminal law enforcement, allow unethical recruitment practices to continue in Viet Nam, putting migrant workers at risk of forced labour and human trafficking. The report calls for a comprehensive understanding of complex migrant worker journeys to most popular destinations – Japan, Taiwan Province of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea – examining risk and vulnerabilities at various stages of labour migration process. It provides recommendations to support the development of strategies by state policymakers and stakeholders to further strengthen protection of Vietnamese migrant workers from exploitative recruitment and employment practices. The study, funded by the IOM Development Fund and Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, is based on qualitative survey methods consisting of in-depth interviews with migrant workers, focus group discussions, family case studies and key informant interviews. It has been delivered by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in collaboration with the Institute for Family and Gender Studies. The research is part of the wider effort of IOM to support progress towards the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and realization of the migration-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report is currently available in English and Vietnamese.  For more information about the research, please contact Nguyen Thu Huong at thuongnguyen@iom.int For media inquiries, please contact Nguyen Thi Hong Yen at thihnguyen@iom.int

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Press Release

30 September 2021

Equipment donation boosts services for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence during Viet Nam’s fourth wave of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe health and socio-economic impacts resulting in increased incidences of human trafficking and violence against women and children. Viet Nam has seen numbers of those affected rise since the nation’s fourth wave started in April and rights groups have warned that despite Viet Nam’s closed borders throughout the pandemic, traffickers and smugglers have found new ways to continue illicit activities. To counter these issues, UNODC and UN Women have worked closely with the Ministry of Public Security and in August 2021 delivered a training to 16 law enforcement personnel to increase their capacity to handle cases of trafficking through a gender and victim-centered perspective. In addition, UN Women has been supporting the Centre for Women and Development which runs three shelters called Peace House (Ngôi nhà Bình yên) and a helpline for women and children who have experienced violence or trafficking. In a ceremony on September 30, UN Women Representative in Viet Nam, Elisa Fernandez Saenz, handed over equipment worth VND 483 million (USD 21,200) to the organization. The donation aims to help Peace House improve the accessibility of their helplines, furnish the shelters, and provide a range of other support services. It was funded through the UN Women-UNODC joint initiative aiming at advocating for a greater participation of women in ASEAN law enforcement entities and mainstreaming gender into criminal investigations, and supported by the Government of Canada. The initiative on providing material support to Peace House builds on recommendations from the research report Women in Law Enforcement in the ASEAN Region published by UN Women, UNODC and INTERPOL in 2020. The recommendations highlight the importance of gender-sensitive facilities that accommodate the specific needs of women and children. This includes ensuring access to separate facilities for women for changing, sleeping and sanitation, but also for breastfeeding and other childcare needs. Fernandez Saenz stressed how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing limitations on service delivery for women and girls. “Support to upgrade these services is necessary, not only in the context of COVID-19 but in the long term, to ensure the dignity, survival and social integration of women who are survivors of violence and human trafficking,” she said. The donations consisted of essential supplies such as mattresses, blankets, air-conditioners and kitchenware, to help ensure safe, functional and comfortable temporary homes for the women and girls as survivors of trafficking and violence staying with the Peace House shelters. The donations also aim to improve the compatibility of equipment of the call center services, which is exceptionally important to address cross-border human trafficking. Duong Ngoc Linh, Director of the Center for Women and Development, the agency in charge of Peace House Shelters, thanked UN Women for the efforts. “The equipment given today is a meaningful gift, which motivates all employees who are always committed to the peace of women and children.” Three shelters and the Peace House counseling rooms are all run by the Center for Women and Development under the Viet Nam Women's Union. After 19 years of operation in Ha Noi and four years in Can Tho, their helpline has counseled on 8,063 cases, amounting to 9,850 survivors over the course of 12,961 calls. In addition, 3,424 women and child survivors of gender-based violence from 50 provinces and 17 ethnic minority regions were supported in-person at the Peace House Shelters. Peace House Shelters have coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities in crisis counseling and emergency intervention, intervening in nearly 30 cases, an increase of 40 percent compared to the same period last year, and are therefore important service providers in ensuring the safety and security of women and girls. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing or is a survivor of violence or may be at risk of trafficking, please call 1900 96 9680 for support.

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Press Release

22 September 2021

Nâng cao chương trình kiểm soát đảm bảo chất lượng của các phòng kiểm nghiệm dư lượng

Chương trình đào tạo được tổ chức trong khuôn khổ dự án đang thực hiện tại Việt Nam mang tên “Nâng cao năng lực tuân thủ tiêu chuẩn và chất lượng của chuỗi giá trị xoài ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long”, là một hợp phần của Chương trình Tiêu chuẩn và Chất lượng Toàn cầu do Cục Kinh tế Liên bang Thụy sĩ (SECO) tài trợ. Phát biểu khai mạc, bà Nguyễn Thị Thu Hương - Phó cục trưởng cục Bảo vệ Thực vật thuộc Bộ Nông nghiệp và PTNT cho biết “Chúng tôi đánh giá cao sự hỗ trợ kỹ thuật của UNIDO và hỗ trợ tài chính của SECO. Chương trình đào tạo được thiết kế cho 5 trung tâm kiểm nghiệm chất lượng được lựa chọn thuộc Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn và Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ. Chương trình rất thiết thực và hữu ích cho cán bộ phân tích của các phòng thí nghiệm. Mục tiêu của chương trình nhằm nâng cấp các quy trình kiểm soát chất lượng nội bộ của các trung tâm được lựa chọn”. Ông Nima Bahramlian, giám đốc dự án của UNIDO cho biết thêm “UNIDO cung cấp hỗ trợ kỹ thuật để đảm bảo rằng các sản phẩm trước khi vào thị trường toàn cầu đều được kiểm tra đầy đủ theo các tiêu chuẩn quốc tế và các yêu cầu về đánh giá sự phù hợp. Các quốc gia bắt buộc phải vận hành các phòng kiểm nghiệm có khả năng kiểm tra các sản phẩm và mẫu để tuân thủ các tiêu chuẩn quốc tế ”. Ông Đỗ Quang Huy, Cán bộ chương trình của SECO chia sẻ “Việt Nam là một trong những quốc gia có độ mở thương mại lớn nhất. Do đó chúng ta phải nhìn vào vấn đề chất lượng. Hy vọng dự án này sẽ giải quyết được phần nào vấn đề về chất lượng và các rào cản thương mại để thâm nhập vào các thị trường lớn hơn. Hệ thống kiểm soát chất lượng là rất quan trọng. Để giúp các nước có thu nhập trung bình tham gia hiệu quả vào thị trường, việc xây dựng hệ thống kiểm soát chất lượng đạt chuẩn quốc tế là một trong những ưu tiên của chính phủ Thụy Sĩ nhằm giúp Việt Nam tham gia vào hệ thống, dựa trên các quy tắc thương mại công bằng. Dự án tiêu chuẩn chất lượng này là một trong những dự án trọng điểm của SECO đối với Việt Nam. Vấn đề chất lượng sẽ đồng hành với vấn đề phát triển nông nghiệp bền vững, gắn với câu chuyện chuyển đổi số trong nông nghiệp”. Chương trình đào tạo sẽ kết thúc vào tháng 12 năm 2021, bao gồm nhiều buổi khác nhau với các nội dung: kiểm soát chất lượng nội bộ, xác định và giải thích kết quả đo so với MRL, đánh giá thống kê, nguyên tắc lấy mẫu, chương trình giám sát, kiểm tra và kiểm soát trước khi xuất khẩu, v.v.…. Chương trình đào tạo góp phần phát triển năng lực quốc gia trong việc thử nghiệm sản phẩm, cung cấp dịch vụ cho các đơn vị thử nghiệm, nhà sản xuất và xuất khẩu trong nước theo các thông lệ quốc tế tốt nhất, và cũng để tăng cường bảo vệ người tiêu dùng.

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Press Release

22 September 2021

Enhancing the quality assurance quality control programme of residue testing laboratories

The training programme was organized under the framework of the on-going Vietnam Project entitled “Increase quality and standards compliance capacity of mango value chain in Mekong River Delta”, a component of the Global Quality and Standards Programme which is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Opening the event, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong – Deputy Director General of Plant Protection Department said “We highly appreciate the technical assistance of UNIDO and finance support of SECO. The training program is designed for 5 selected laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Science and Technology. It’s very practical and useful for laboratory staffs. Its objective is to upgrade the internal quality control procedures of selected laboratories”. Mr. Nima Bahramlian, UNIDO project manager added “UNIDO provides technical assistance to ensure that before products enter global markets they are adequately tested according to international standards and conformity assessment requirements. Countries are required to operate laboratories, which are able to test products and samples for compliance to international standards”. Mr. Do Quang Huy, National Program Officer of SECO said: “Vietnam is one of the countries with the largest trade openness. Hopefully this project will partly solve the problem of quality and trade barriers to penetrate the large quality market. Quality control systems are very important. To help middle-income countries effectively participate in the market, building an international accreditation quality control system is one of the priorities of the Swiss government to help Vietnam participate in the system, based on fair trade rules. This quality standard project is one of SECO’s key projects for Vietnam. The issue of quality will accompany the issue of sustainable agricultural development, associated with the story of digital transformation in agriculture.” The training program which will end by December 2021 concludes a sery of sessions covering different topics: internal quality control, measurement results determination and interpretation vs MRL, statistical evaluation, sampling principles, mornitoring programme, pre-export testing and control, etc. …. It will contribute to developing the local capacities in product testing, in order to provide services to local testers, producers and exporters according to international best practices, and also to enhance consumer protection.

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