Preventing Future Generations from Falling Victim to Human Trafficking – Caritas Vietnam Initiative
In Vietnam, a country with over 72 million internet and social media users, Sister Teresa Pham Ninh Khanh Hau recently met with over 100 teenagers to teach them how to recognise scams and be aware of human trafficking. This initiative is a crucial step in addressing the increasing vulnerability of children and young adults in the digital age.
According to statistics, roughly 17% of Vietnam's internet users are between the ages of 13 and 24. This large demographic, coupled with the growing usage of social media, has created a fertile ground for criminals to lure and defraud victims, causing a national crisis and serious social issues.
The Committee for the Prevention of Unsafe Migration and Human Trafficking in Caritas Hue has been at the forefront of combating the misinformation found online. In areas like Tien Non parish, where access to information about safe migration and human trafficking is limited, Caritas Hue offers guidance and reliable information.
To combat this growing issue, Vietnam has implemented a multi-pronged approach. The 2024 Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control, effective July 2025, emphasises a victim-centered approach and broadens protections to vulnerable groups. The law updates and expands previous regulations, explicitly addressing new trafficking tactics and victim protections.
The ongoing 5th National Plan of Action (2021–2025) promotes coordination between the Ministry of Public Security and other agencies, with national campaigns urging whole-of-society involvement to prevent trafficking and protect especially women and children.
Enhanced law enforcement has also been a key effort. Vietnamese police and judicial bodies have intensified investigations, prosecutions, and convictions, with hundreds of trafficking cases handled in 2024 and early 2025.
Digital and technological measures are also being adopted to monitor trafficking trends, detect criminal tactics, and enable data sharing between sectors. Authorities are urged to accelerate digital transformation to stay ahead of the evolving tactics of traffickers.
Public awareness and education are critical to educating citizens on trafficking risks and misinformation spread through social media. Diversified communication, inclusive participation of trafficking survivors, and youth engagement are emphasised as key strategies.
International cooperation is another essential component of Vietnam's strategy. The country works with international organisations like the IOM and UN and neighbouring countries to enhance capacity building, victim support, and cross-border anti-trafficking initiatives.
In the first half of 2025, there have been 120 additional cases of human trafficking investigated in Vietnam. Despite these efforts, it is clear that the fight against human trafficking and online scams is far from over. However, with initiatives like Sister Teresa's and the comprehensive approach being taken by the Vietnamese government, there is hope for a safer digital future for Vietnam's children and young adults.
References:
[1] UN News, 2023, "Vietnam strengthens legal framework to combat human trafficking." [Online]. Available: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1098352
[2] Human Rights Watch, 2024, "Vietnam: New Law a Step Forward on Human Trafficking." [Online]. Available: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/01/vietnam-new-law-step-forward-human-trafficking
[3] The Diplomat, 2025, "Vietnam's New Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control: A Victim-Centered Approach." [Online]. Available: https://thediplomat.com/2025/06/vietnams-new-law-on-human-trafficking-prevention-and-control-a-victim-centered-approach
[4] Reuters, 2025, "Vietnam steps up efforts to combat human trafficking, especially online." [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-steps-efforts-combat-human-trafficking-especially-online-2025-03-15/
[5] Caritas Internationalis, 2024, "Caritas Hue in Vietnam combats human trafficking through Committee for the Prevention of Unsafe Migration and Human Trafficking." [Online]. Available: https://www.caritas.org/news/caritas-hue-in-vietnam-combats-human-trafficking-through-committee-for-the-prevention-of-unsafe-migration-and-human-trafficking
- Sister Teresa Pham Ninh Khanh Hau's initiative to teach teenagers about scams and human trafficking recognition is a significant step in advancing mental health and personal growth, particularly in the health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and social-media domains.
- As more young adults in Vietnam, aged 13-24, adopt social media and the internet for fitness-and-exercise, entertainment, and career-development purposes, it becomes increasingly crucial to provide reliable information about nutrition, safety, and potential threats like crime-and-justice issues, such as human trafficking and scams.
- The growing usage of social media in Vietnam has led to concerns over the increased vulnerability of children and young adults to falling victim to online crimes, posing a challenge for both education-and-self-development and general-news sectors.
- In addition to combating human trafficking, Vietnam's multi-pronged approach toward addressing online scams also includes measures to enhance law enforcement, ensure proper career development, and promote digital transformation, all of which impact areas like entertainment, crime-and-justice, and science.
- To combat the misinformation and scams present on social media, the Vietnamese government is emphasizing international cooperation with organizations like the IOM and UN, as well as cross-border initiatives, which can contribute to the development and global understanding of various fields, including crime-and-justice and social media.
- The success of Vietnam's efforts in combating online scams and human trafficking not only affects the safety and well-being of its children and young adults but also sets an example for other nations facing similar challenges, highlighting the importance of this issue in various sectors, such as science, crime-and-justice, education-and-self-development, and international relations.
