Most of the young participants were teenagers from the Viet Nam-China border provinces of Guangxi, Yunnan (China), Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Hung Yen, and Bac Giang (Viet Nam).

The forum was an opportunity for the younger generation to discuss the dangers that face child victims - everything from sexual abuse and forced marriage to hard labour and violence. Participants agreed that HIV was a huge threat to everyone involved in the illegal process.

"Trafficking in women and children flagrantly violates their rights," said vice chairwoman of the Viet Nam Women’s Union Nguyen Thi Oanh.

"We must respect children’s views. Children also need to actively participate in the prevention of trafficking and combating against these unacceptable crimes. Let’s unite against trafficking in women and children for a better future."

Prior to the forum children participated in a two-day workshop where they shared their experiences and discussed the negative impact that trafficking had on their lives.

"Hearing the voices and stories of children who suffered this heinous form of abuse is a sobering reminder that there needs to be more messages of deterrence, law enforcement collaboration, and international, regional and national strategic co-ordination to effectively prevent and tackle human trafficking," Jesper Morch, a UNICEF representative in Viet Nam, said.

Key messages from the children will be presented to Vietnamese and Chinese officials in the hope of developing new national strategies and to strengthen cross-border co-operation.

The initiative was jointly implemented by the Viet Nam Women’s Unions and the All China Women’s Federation with assistance from UNICEF in response to the estimated thousands of Vietnamese women and girls at risk of trafficking or already being trafficked to China including Chinese children being trafficked through the Viet Nam-Cambodia border.

The forum also gathered government officials, representatives from mass organisations, UNICEF country offices in Viet Nam and China, and international organisations in Viet Nam. — VNS