The issue:
Viet Nam has achieved impressive economic progress since the doi moi (renovation) process was launched in 1986. Since 1993, real GDP growth has averaged 7.5% per year and the poverty rate has been reduced from 58% in 1993 to 13% in 2008. Growth has been driven by accelerated international integration, market liberalization and job creation in the private sector.

The issue:
While Viet Nam has achieved a significant reduction in malnutrition among under-five children during the last three decades, malnutrition remains a public health priority.  There are important differences in food patterns between the highlands, midlands and mountainous areas, between urban and rural areas, and between ethnic groups. Many maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) core outcomes, such as like maternal mortality, child mortality and child malnutrition rates, are lagging behind in these areas compared to the rest of Viet Nam, especially among poor and disadvantaged groups.

The issue:
Located in the Central Highlands region of the country, Kon Tum is one of the poorest provinces in Viet Nam, where large ethnic minority population reside. Of the total population of 389,745, approximately 53% belongs to various ethnic groups – Bana, Xedang, De, Trieng, G’rai, B’rou and R’mam.

This factsheet, prepared by the UN Technical Working Group on Human Trafficking, summarizes current efforts by the Government of Viet Nam, the UN in Viet Nam and other organizations to combat this challenge in Viet Nam and the region.

The Issue

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights. It involves the movement of men, women and/or children by means of deception, coercion or threat for the purposes of exploitation. Vietnamese people vulnerable to trafficking include those that move for work both within and outside of the country. These migrants find jobs as domestic workers, or in the construction, agriculture, fishing and manufacturing sectors, and in the sex industry. Trafficking is known to occur mainly for the purposes of labour and sexual exploitation, but there are also cases of trafficking for marriage and child adoption.

Enabling rural households to ‘craft their way out of poverty’
Welcome to the first issue of the quarterly newsletter of the joint programme ‘Green Production and Trade to Increase Income and Employment Opportunities for the Rural Poor’, in short ‘Green Production and Trade’! Through this newsletter we will keep you up to date on new developments and progress realized by the programme.