Strengthening Inter-agency Cooperation in the Fight against Human Trafficking in Viet Nam

The event served as a platform to spotlight emerging trafficking trends, strengthen law enforcement and international cooperation, promote the use of technology to disrupt trafficking networks and reaffirm the importance of victim-centred approaches. Participants also emphasized the critical role of youth as catalysts for change in the fight against human trafficking.

The World Day against Trafficking in Persons is observed globally on the 30 July to raise awareness of a crime that affects not only the victims but entire societies. This year’s theme, “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation,” underscores the need to dismantle trafficking networks through coordinated law enforcement and justice sector responses while ensuring that survivors are fully protected.

In recent years, trafficking in persons has grown increasingly complex across the Asia–Pacific region. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asia has witnessed a sharp rise in scam compounds operated by transnational criminal syndicates engaged in sophisticated online fraud. According to IOM’s Regional Situation Report on Trafficking in Persons into Forced Criminality in Online Scamming Centres in Southeast Asia, the number of trafficking victims forced into criminal activities who received IOM’s support tripled, from 296 in 2022 to 978 in 2023. 

These criminal groups deceive online users and exploit individuals who are forcibly recruited to work for them. Many victims – often young and educated – are lured with promises of high-paying jobs, only to have their passports confiscated and be subjected to confinement, violence, sexual abuse and coercion into carrying out scams. These include fake investment schemes, cryptocurrency fraud, impersonation schemes and so-called pig butchering scams, in which fraudsters cultivate trust with victims over time before defrauding them of significant sums of money. 

Mitsue Pembroke, IOM Officer-in-Charge in Viet Nam, praised the country’s leadership in promoting safe migration and preventing human trafficking, particularly through the revision of the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat in 2024. “This is a remarkable milestone for Viet Nam and reflects its strong commitment to tackling this crime. The revised law lays a stronger foundation for addressing increasingly complex trafficking trends, which are exacerbated by socio-economic challenges,” she stated.

With nearly 2.4 billion youth worldwide, this is the largest generation in history. Among the 281 million international migrants, approximately 11.3 per cent are below 24 years old.  In Viet Nam, over 22 million young people aged 16 to 30 are considering moving from their hometowns in search of better work and study opportunities.

Mitsue emphasized that while youth are increasingly vulnerable to traffickers exploiting online platforms, they also hold the power to drive meaningful change. “Their creativity, energy and digital fluency position them to develop innovative solutions to combat trafficking in the digital age. Investing in youth not only protects their peers but also strengthens community resilience,” she added. 

“As Viet Nam prepares to host the signing of the Hanoi Convention, the first-ever global treaty dedicated to addressing cybercrime, it marks a pivotal moment in international cooperation against cyber-enabled crimes, including human trafficking,” said Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator. “Together, we must strengthen our commitments to protecting trafficking victims – especially vulnerable communities and children – and to dismantling organized exploitation in the digital age.”

The dialogue also featured a side event – an exhibition and interactive experience space titled “Spot the Signs, Fight the Crime”– where participants and the public actively engaged in learning to recognize the signs of human trafficking through facts, figures and real-life stories. The space aimed to raise awareness of trafficking as an organized crime and equip visitors with practical skills to protect themselves and others, access support resources, and make informed migration decisions.