Vietnamese Women Trafficked Up
Date Posted: 2/5/2006

TRAFFICKING Vietnamese women and children increased last year to 125 cases, up 123 percent over the previous year, Guangxi regional public security officials said.

People smuggling increased in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that shares land and water borders with Vietnam, police said.

They said increased trafficking and other cross-border crimes reflect expanded economic and cultural ties with Vietnam and more border transit.

    
So, there is a an argument that expanding economic and cultural ties does not increase respect for human rights. There are negative consequences of expanding economic ties with a country that has a record of human rights abuses. 

Last July, Guangxi police collaborated with their counterparts in Vietnam to crack down on trafficking women and children.

They broke up 12 smuggling rings, arrested 37 suspects and rescued 105 Vietnamese women and children. The victims were returned to Vietnam.

Since 2001, regional police have cracked 100 women trafficking cases and arrested nearly 200 suspects. About 1,800 Vietnamese women have been rescued, police said.

 

It's a start but is it enough?

Those convicted of smuggling women or children can be imprisoned for five to 10 years. Those involved in grave cases face life imprisonment or death.