Ensure compatibility with international commitments when amending the Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking

Regarding the draft Law on Prevention and Combat of Human Trafficking (amended), delegate Pham Phu Binh - Standing member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, National Assembly delegate from Nghe An discussed the importance of internalizing Vietnam's commitments to international conventions it has joined, including the Protocol on the Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol).

According to the delegate of Nghe An delegation, one of the most important policies in this draft law is the introduction of the concept of human trafficking in the new draft law.

“We pay special attention to the compatibility of the concept in the draft compared to the international commitments we have participated in,” delegate Pham Phu Binh emphasized and suggested that the drafting agency review to ensure complete compatibility between the concept of “human trafficking” in the draft law and the Palermo Protocol.

At the same time, the drafting agency should also carefully review other international treaties that Vietnam has participated in to ensure legal compatibility when promulgated.

In addition, delegate Pham Phu Binh also raised concerns and suggested reviewing regulations on human trafficking subjects, the concept of victims, victim support policies, and suggested reviewing and considering to ensure regulations are consistent with international conventions that Vietnam participates in and current human trafficking practices.

Regarding the draft Law on Juvenile Justice, Major General Tran Duc Thuan - Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on National Defense and Security, a delegate from Nghe An delegation highly agreed on the necessity of promulgating this law; at the same time, discussed a number of contents for the agency in charge of reviewing and the drafting agency to study.

Supporting the Juvenile Justice Law project, which has been built in the direction of transformation from the initial investigation stage, not just the trial activities; however, according to Major General Tran Duc Thuan, it is necessary to continue reviewing to ensure the rights of minors involved in criminal cases; as well as to avoid overlap and entanglement with the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

In particular, the delegate from Nghe An expressed concern because according to statistics from the authorities, the crime situation involving minors in our country tends to increase. Thereby, he suggested that it is necessary to review, assess the impact and build laws to ensure appropriate policies, ensuring humanity towards minors who commit crimes, but also not negatively impact the crime situation, especially juvenile crimes of a reckless nature.

The Juvenile Justice Law Project is being drafted in the direction of separating juveniles in criminal cases with accomplices to be tried separately. This provision is assessed to better protect the rights of juveniles, but Major General Tran Duc Thuan also suggested that it is necessary to assess the impact to make it a reasonable law, because the number of cases will increase, creating pressure on the trial work.

In addition, the delegate of Nghe An delegation suggested that it is necessary to review and have more specific regulations for each specific age group for minors.

Previously, after listening to the President's Report, the Prime Minister's Explanatory Report, and the verification report of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the proposal to ratify the document of accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.