From the VietNamNet: Gov’t cracks down on human trafficking
Vietnam is stepping up its efforts to crack down on human trafficking rings by proposing the creation of an independent investigative agency and amending the country’s penal code to include the trading of men and unborn children as well as women.
Trafficking in unborn children was first uncovered after a scandal in Ha Tay Province involving the trafficking and sale of infants for adoption broke out in February.
Before being incarcerated, Nguyen Thi Thuyen, the alleged trafficker, once worked at the Ha Tay Centre for Social Beneficiaries Care, where her husband serves as a director.
The centre’s major duties are to process adoption requests and prospective matches.
Seeking windfall profits, Thuyen and her husband had for years convinced young unwed pregnant women to not have an abortion. Instead she advised them to give birth and then adopt their newborns. But Thuyen then resold the newborns for a high price.
Though the Ha Noi police arrested the trafficker, Thuyen’s network was just one of a number of baby-trafficking networks disclosed recently.
The networks usually approach young girls, mostly residing in the provinces of Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Bac Lieu or HCM City, and offer to buy babies at prices ranging from VND8-15million (US$481-$903.6).
An infant girl can then be resold for VND15 million (US$930), while a baby boy costs VND25-30 million ($1,506-$1,807).
One response
I don’t know if I believe much will change, but at least it looks like they are trying to maintain relations with the West which gives me some hope.