WASHINGTON –
The US State Department on Monday upgraded Vietnam’s ranking in a report on human trafficking, even as concerns were raised that the Southeast Asian country had failed to investigate government officials complicit in human trafficking crimes.
A rights group last week accused Hanoi of providing misleading information and attempting to cover up human trafficking cases involving officials in its communications with US officials on the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
Washington removed Vietnam from a watch list in the 2024 report, citing “generally increased efforts” on human trafficking, including submitting an anti-trafficking bill to the legislature for review, increasing prosecutions and assisting of more victims.
