William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice
Abstract
Viet Nam is considered a country of origin for child sex trafficking, especially to Thailand, Cambodia, and China, all significant destinations for child sex tourism, a form of prostitution. Despite existing laws and policies in Viet Nam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, child trafficking operations in the region have flourished. Viet Nam has been characterized as a country whose “[g]overnment . . . does not fully meet the [Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s] minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.” Viet Nam has demonstrated its commitment to preventing human trafficking, both within and without its borders. It has done so by amending its laws, ratifying international treaties, and cooperating with regional anti-trafficking initiatives. However, the government of Viet Nam should undertake additional legislative reforms to fully comply with all applicable international human rights standards and anti-trafficking initiatives.
This Article seeks to examine Viet Nam’s trafficking problem both within the context of Viet Nam’s child sex trafficking patterns and Viet Nam’s cultural, economic, and political environment. The Introduction reviews the current problem and describes child trafficking in Viet Nam. The first part examines the Vietnamese government’s effort to prevent, protect, and prosecute against child traffickers. It will concentrate on the implementation of national laws as mandated by international law and the likelihood of success of criminal prosecution in Viet Nam. The second part will focus on the impact of international efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintegrate exploited children. The third part examines the impact of U.S. influence on the evolution of sex trafficking of children within Viet Nam. The last part discusses recommendations to combat child trafficking in Viet Nam.
This abstract has been adapted from the author's introduction.