The Fight Against Human Trafficking

On behalf of UCR VSA

We regret to learn about the detention of 11 Vietnamese women and 1 Vietnamese man in the recent prostitution arrest. This news is not only an unfortunate case of criminal activity in the Vietnamese community but also a call for attention to the reality of Human sex trafficking of Vietnamese women in America. Women and children from Vietnam and neighboring Southeast Asian countries are targeted in illegal human trafficking, most of which trade amongst each other to house victims in brothels as they are forced into either intense labor or domestic work.

Due to the recent nature of this event, UCR VSA is devoting itself to fight against human trafficking and discouraging any events that may promote the selling or trade of humans. Therefore, UCR VSA will cease to hold our annual Charity Date Auction. However, UCR VSA will continue its efforts to raise money for a worthy charity by a different fundraising means. We strongly encourage all schools with relations to the Vietnamese or Asian Pacific Islander community to join us in the fight against human trafficking and sex trade by discontinuing any events that may promote the selling, trading, or auctioning of a human being. We full heartedly believe that by taking these small steps we can channel the message of unity within our Asian American community to emphasize the pressing issue of this illegal industry.

UCR VSA will be glad to provide support and ideas for fundraisers in lieu of Date Auction or events of the like. Please feel free to contact UCR VSA’s co-presidents

Kimmy Nguyen – knguy040[@]ucr[.]edu
or
Lisa Tran – dtran023[@]ucr[.]edu

University California, Riverside
Vietnamese Student Association
2009-2010