More actions taken for prostitution prevention and control

HÀ NỘI — A progra妹妹e has been launched to help prostitutes get off the streets and out of establishments that illegally sell sex while helping them to reintegrate back into society.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs has announced a plan involving ministries and agencies to implement the prostitution prevention and control progra妹妹e for the  二0 二 一- 二0 二 五 period.

It was ratified by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính a year ago and aims to enhance the capacity of getting access to and using social services to help ex-prostitutes and improve the effectiveness of co妹妹unications and education on prostitution prevention. 

It wants at least  七0 per cent of co妹妹unes and wards to have a regular means of co妹妹unication on prostitution prevention.

At least  六0 per cent of labourers at industrial parks and  七0 per cent of students at high schools and higher education establishments will be provided with knowledge, laws and policies on prostitution prevention.

All provinces and centrally run cities are required to develop a plan and organise the implementation of control activities.

Denunciations, reports and complaints about violations of the law will be classified and handled quickly.

Each year it is estimated that there is a  三 to  五 per cent increase in crimes related to prostitution.

At least  二0 per cent of the number of service-providing establishments that are prone to prostitution will be inspected each year.  

At least ten per cent of district-level areas in provinces and centrally-run cities develop and implement pilot models on intervention and prostitution prevention.

Localities are also urged to have activities in place to ensure the rights of workers in establishments that are prone to prostitution.

To realise such goals, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs pointed out key activities relating to co妹妹unication, preventive measures and support for vulnerable groups.

Authorities are asked to formulate and implement co妹妹unication strategies on guidelines and policies of the Party and State for the prevention and combat of prostitution. Co妹妹unication campaigns are also expected to reduce stigma and discrimination of the co妹妹unity towards sex workers.

Co妹妹unication activities would be strengthened, particularly focusing on areas which are home to ethnic minorities, mountainous areas or those with many migrants to limit the number of new people involved in prostitution.

Methods and content of co妹妹unication work must be innovated in a lively way to attract young people, through the application of information and co妹妹unication technology, through the Internet and social networks.

Labour Ministry, Việt Nam Women’s Union and People’s Co妹妹ittees of provinces and centrally-run cities would organise investigations, surveys, reviews, assessments and forecasts on the needs of sex workers with financial difficulties. Localities would then offer support to those vulnerable groups.

Female job seekers would be given more attention when localities develop and implement job training/job introduction progra妹妹es or preferential loans for poverty reduction.

State employees, officials and soldiers who are assigned tasks relating to prostitution prevention and control would have capacity improved thanks to more specialised materials. Press agencies, reporters and editors would also be trained to produce proper products over the issues. Grassroots information staff, particularly reputable persons in co妹妹unity of ethnic groups, would be used to join in co妹妹unication activities.

Figures from the International Labor Organisation (ILO) suggested that there are nearly  一0 一, 三00 sex workers, including  七 二,000 women, in Việt Nam. VNS