Feb 23, 2023 – U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper discussed efforts to combat human trafficking in his first visit to Lao Cai Province, which borders China, earlier this week.
Countering human trafficking is a priority for the U.S. government and I want to thank you for our excellent cooperation here, including on several counter-trafficking projects in Lao Cai supported by the U.S. Embassy.
Knapper also learned about the challenges facing trafficking survivors once they return to their communities when he visited Compassion House in Lao Cai Town, a government-owned shelter for trafficking survivors run by the NGO Pacific Links Foundation.
He spoke with shelter staff and representatives from the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs about the services they provide to trafficking survivors, including health screening, counseling, vocational training, life skills training, and job placement.
Shelter staff described how the profile of trafficking survivors changed during the pandemic and what they expect to see following the reopening of the border with China.
