“The Embassy of Canada in Vietnam is pleased to support these excellent projects. We hope that the projects will directly contribute to the improvement LGBT rights and the prevention of anti-human trafficking in Vietnam” said David Devine, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam.

Three local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will receive aid through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives 2014-2015, namely ICS Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, the Centre for Development and Integration (CDI) and the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP) in Hanoi

The ICS Center in Ho Chi Minh City will receive CAD30,607 for the Project: “LGBT rights are human rights – Building capacity to sustain the movement for LGBT human rights in Vietnam at the national and local levels”. The project is to sustain the momentum of the movement for human rights of LGBT persons at the national level and to spearhead the movement in 15 provinces.

The CCIHP will receive CAD30,430 for the project: “Voices Beyond Borders: Combating Human Trafficking in Northern Border Provinces of Vietnam”. It will address human trafficking in Lao Cai province through the use of creative communication (photo-voice) and direct advocacy undertaken by survivors of trafficking and their families to raise awareness of trafficking, help to prevent it from occurring, and to work to ensure that survivors of trafficking are supported and perpetrators prosecuted.

The CDI will receive CAD33,215 for the project:  “Legal support to at risk groups and victims of human trafficking in Trung Khanh border district, Cao Bang province”.  It aims to improve the legal understanding and to provide legal counseling for local stakeholders in Cao Bang in order to improve the capacity of those vulnerable to human-trafficking to protect themselves. It also supports for returning victims. About 1600 people of 3 communes in Trung Khanh district are expected to directly benefit from this project.