HCM City's underprivileged children, including victims of human trafficking and child labour, raised their voices at a forum last Sunday to express their wish for more support and protection.

The special event, held by the HCM City Child Welfare Foundation (HCWF), featured games and discussions on the occasion of Asian Action Day against Child Trafficking.

"We would like to take advantage of this day to send a message to all people that we need more care and protection from society," said 16-year-old Nguyen Thi Cam Ha.

"We want to lead a cheerful childhood and have a good future despite our disadvantaged backgrounds," she said. "We hope that all adults make more effort to save us from human trafficking and sexual abuse."

Cam Ha, who lives at the Little Rose Shelter, is one of several hundred disadvantaged children supported by the foundation. Many of them are former victims of cross-border human trafficking and child labour exploitation.

Playful activities, including a quiz and fashion show contest, were dedicated to educating vulnerable children about the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

Human trafficking is still a problem, despite continued efforts by governments in the Southeast Asian region, said Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, permanent Deputy Chair of the foundation.

Unofficial statistics from the country's social organisations show thousands of Vietnamese women and children have been sold across the border.

Victims are unaware they are being cheated, said Pham The Nguyen, Chair of the District 7 Committee for Population, Family and Children.

"With support from international child welfare societies, such as the German-based Terre des Hommes and the Asia Acts Stop Child Trafficking programme, a number of measures, including mass education campaigns, have been implemented in Vietnam in an effort to stop the crime," Ms Anh said.

"In addition to annual mass movements to raise the responsibility of the society in protecting and caring for children, the Government is concerned about improving the living status of poor people, including children."

As the city's first NGO for child care and protection, HCWF has developed 60 projects and programmes to save homeless and poor children from child trafficking, drug use and child labour.

Among the most successful projects are the Little Rose Shelter, which provides accommodation and vocational training for teen girls who are victims of sexual abuse, the Future, and Green Bamboo, both of which protect male teenagers from forcedwork and drug abuse.

(Source: Viet Nam News)