Rescuing victims of human trafficking: A case study in Vietnam

Abstract

Although removing victims from trafficking occurs worldwide, little is known about how it works, particularly in developing Asian countries such as Vietnam. Appropriating Western strategies of victim removal is made more difficult in Vietnam given the country’s political ideology, top-down management, and centralised governance. To better understand and elucidate the process of TIP victim rescues, this paper used in-depth interviews with fifteen police officials, four officials of a non-governmental organization, and five victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) at a settlement in Vietnam. Findings demonstrated that state and non-state actors endeavoured to rescue victims. Depending on obligations, functions, and responsibilities, agencies were shown to implement separate campaigns, techniques, and operations to rescue trafficking victims. The study further explains the rationale for rescue and the difficulties faced by rescuers, particularly with respect to crossing the porous border between Vietnam and China. This research highlights practical insights for improving current policies, legal framework, programs, and strategies to effectively rescue TIP victims.