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Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Human Trafficking
UVSA April 19, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Students, Community Organizations Will Walk Against Human Trafficking To Raise Awareness and Advocate for Anti-Human Trafficking Policies
WESTMINSTER - Human trafficking is a modern day form of slavery. Women, children, and men are bought and sold everyday, all over the world. Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of labor and sexual exploitation.
In the past two years, the problem of human trafficking has captured the attention of many concerned individuals and community organizations including the Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (uNAVSA). In July 2005, student leaders from across the country made a joint commitment to work on raising more public awareness about human trafficking and supporting the efforts of the recently formed Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Human Trafficking (VietACT).
“Not only does human trafficking affect women and children in Southeast Asia, it also affects many people here at home,” said Michael Nguyen, Internal Vice President of Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (UVSA). “These are our brothers and sisters and we have to do whatever we can to protect them and stop this from continuing on.”
In Southern California, the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California will join the uNAVSA national effort by hosting a Walk Against Human Trafficking on May 13th, 2006. The Walk Against Trafficking event aims to educate and raise greater concern in the general public about the epidemic of modern-day slavery known as human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of Vietnamese men and women who endure slave labor and sexual exploitation.
Hundreds of Vietnamese Student Association members and concerned individuals throughout the country, including Southern California, Northern California, and Atlanta, Georgia, will take a stand and fight against human trafficking on Saturday, May 13th, 2006.
The registration is $20 and will include a Walk Against Human Trafficking t-shirt and a goodie bag. The WALK AGAINST TRAFFICKING will begin at the headquarters of the event at Nguoi Viet Daily News Community Room, 14771 Moran Street, Westminster, California. The walkathon will be a multi-hour event designed to raise awareness about the tragedy of human trafficking and raise money for the programs of the Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT).
VietACT is a grassroots organization dedicated to eradicating human trafficking of Vietnamese victims through collaboration, advocacy, and education, for the purpose of supporting, protecting, and empowering victims. VietACT has been involved with numerous fundraising efforts to support of the Vietnamese Brides and Migrant Workers Office in Taipei, Taiwan. Proceeds have gone directly to aid victims with shelter, health care, counseling, and legal services. On April 23rd, 2006, UVSA will come together for a rally to raise community awareness about the upcoming Walk Against Human Trafficking. The rally will begin at 12 noon in front of Phuoc Loc Tho (Asian Garden Mall). The community including news reporters, community organizations, and concerned individuals are welcome to join the rally. For more information, please contact Michael Nguyen (UVSA) at 714-488-9958 or internalvp@thsv.org.
Vietnam Human Rights Network |