A communication campaign was launched in the central province of QuangTri on July 15 aiming to raise public awareness of fightinghuman-trafficking in areas bordering Laos.

Organised by theSteering Committee on Crime Prevention and Control of the Government andthe Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Central Committee, the campaign looksto encourage people to constantly enhance their knowledge of the issueas a way to protect themselves and their relatives from the crime.

People are also called to strictly abide by legal regulationson human -trafficking prevention and join in denouncing criminal deeds.

The combat against cross-border human trafficking is not easywhen Vietnam shares with Laos a borderline of 2,000 kilometers which isconnected by 35 border gates of various types and numerous jungle roads.

Accordingto the General Police Department on Crime Prevention and Control underthe Ministry of Public Security, from 2005 to 2013 authorities in thelocalities bordering Laos brought to light 85 human trafficking caseswith 234 victims.

As much as 80 percent of the trafficking casestarget women and children. However, in recent time, traffickers havealso shown their interests in men, newborns and human organs.

Traffickersat home or abroad often come up with promises of high wages or takeadvantage legal loopholes in marriage, child adoption, labour export ortravelling to deceive vulnerable people.

In recent years, theVWU worked closely with ministries and relevant sectors and societies atall levels to organise communication activities helping the public gainfull understanding of the problem, contributing to reducing the numberof human trafficking cases and enabling the victims to reintegrate intothe community.-VNA