Decision No. 151/2000/QD-TTg On approving the Action Program to Prevent and Combat Prostitution for the period 2001-2005

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the approval of the Action Program to Prevent and Combat Prostitution for the Period 2001-2005 

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 05/CP dated January 29, 1993 of the Government on preventing and combating prostitution;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, 

DECISION:

Clause 4 of Article 6Approves the Action Program to Prevent and Combat Prostitution for the Period 2001-2005 (attached hereto).

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentThis Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

Article 3. The Chairman of the National Committee for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control and Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, the Ministers, Heads of Ministries equivalent to Ministries, Heads of Government Agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.

 

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER (Signed) Pham Gia Khiem

ACTION PROGRAM TO PREVENT AND COMBAT PROSTITUTION FOR THE PERIOD 2001-2005

(Issued together with Decision No.: 151/2000/QĐ-TTg dated December 28, 2000 of the Prime Minister)

 

Part One

SITUATION OF PROSTITUTION AND RESULTS OF PREVENTING AND COMBATING PROSTITUTION

I. Results of Preventing and Combating Prostitution from 1994 to 2000.

Implementing Directives, Resolutions, and legal documents of the Party and the Government on preventing and combating social evils and prostitution (Directive No. 33-CT/TW dated March 1, 1994 of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on leading the prevention and control of social evils; Resolution No. 05/CP dated January 29, 1993 of the Government on preventing and combating prostitution; Decree No. 87/CP dated December 12, 1995 of the Government on strengthening management of cultural activities and cultural services, intensifying eradication of serious social evils...), due to the efforts of ministries, sectors, and localities, along with the participation of the people, the increase in prostitution has been limited, especially in key areas.

In recent years, the work of preventing and combating prostitution has achieved specific results:

- Initially, the prevention and control of social evils have been linked to the movement to build a civilized lifestyle; nearly 1,000 communes and wards have been built as healthy areas free from drug abuse and prostitution; mobilizing the masses to participate in preventing, controlling, and deterring prostitution crimes.

- Disrupting more than 11,000 groups organizing prostitution; arresting over 40,000 individuals (including over 10,000 organizers and brokers of prostitution).

- Adjudicating over 6,000 cases involving nearly 9,000 defendants for the crime of organizing and brokering prostitution; administratively handling hundreds of thousands of service establishments (hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, massage centers, nightclubs...) and many violators of Decree No. 87/CP.

- Educating, treating over 30,000 prostitutes; teaching skills and creating jobs for nearly 14,000 individuals.

II. Existing Issues:

In recent years, the national economy has seen growth, but some social evils, particularly prostitution, have the potential to re-emerge on a wide scale. The situation of prostitution in many localities remains severe in terms of scale, nature, and methods of operation:

1. Prostitution has spread to 61 provinces and centrally governed cities, including rural areas.

2. Prostitution disguised within business and service establishments (among prostitutes collected and sent to social facilities, 70% to 80% were waitresses and service staff at these establishments); there are cases involving minors, with networks supplying prostitutes to 30 to 40 establishments, including state-managed ones; open prostitution at certain spots in major cities and border areas between provinces, districts, towns, and villages.

3. Trafficking women and children abroad for prostitution purposes, and juvenile prostitution continue to increase.

4. Notable subjects involved in prostitution include:

a) Prostitutes: According to investigations, nearly 50% have a moderate standard of living but have fallen into immorality, are lazy workers, and sell themselves for money; the rest are poor, unemployed, or deceived.

b) Clients and accomplices of prostitution:

Mainly those who have become wealthy through improper means, have degenerated lifestyles, including some officials and civil servants.

c) Organizers and brokers of prostitution : Primarily some restaurants, guesthouses..., including some state-owned businesses that also host prostitution or assist in its operations.

III. Causes of Existing Issues.

1. Subjective causes.

a) Due to super profits, organizers and brokers of prostitution violate laws, using all means to organize, host, and broker prostitution, bribing and enticing some corrupt officials to cover up or turn a blind eye. Also, due to super profits, a portion of young women are lazy workers, ambitious for quick wealth, and have degenerated, voluntarily selling themselves. b) In terms of awareness: Some officials and employees often blame the "supply and demand" rule of the market economy, poverty, lack of employment, for the inevitable existence of prostitution. In some places, the authorities remain outside the issue, "outsourcing" it to functional agencies.

c) In terms of management:

- Loose management of residential areas and household registration; widespread issuance of business licenses for services prone to prostitution (hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, guesthouses...), without regular strict inspection and supervision, leading to disguised prostitution.

- Lax management and education on ethics and lifestyle; unable to promote traditional moral values, culture, and customs of the nation.

- In leadership work: unclear division of responsibilities, insufficient inter-departmental coordination.

- Insufficient investment in personnel and infrastructure of centers for treating prostitutes.

d) In terms of laws and violation handling:

- Some provisions in legal documents are not appropriate such as: In the Law on Administrative Violation Handling, the age requirement for compulsory treatment, complex procedures..., making it difficult to send prostitutes to treatment facilities.

- Handling of violators, especially clients, is not timely and strict enough.

2. Objective causes.

a) Under pressure from job scarcity, unemployment in urban and rural areas has become acute; the policies and mechanisms of the State are not strong enough to meet the employment needs of workers.

b) In some countries in the region, prostitution is allowed, thus increasing the trafficking of women and children from our country to other countries.

b) In some countries in the region, prostitution is operating, thus the situation of trafficking women and children from our country to foreign countries has increased.

Part Two

POLICY - SOLUTIONS FOR PREVENTING AND COMBATING PROSTITUTION EVIL 2001 - 2005

I. Views and Principles.

1. Views.

a) Prostitution is a serious social evil, causing negative consequences in many aspects: moral degradation, lifestyle corruption; transmission of HIV/AIDS hazards; adverse impact on the gene pool; disruption of family happiness, thereby affecting social order and safety. Therefore, all forms of prostitution must be strictly prohibited.

b) Prioritize the work of preventing and combating prostitution as an urgent task, contributing significantly to achieving the goal of building a progressive, just, and civilized society; shaping new people, cultural families, and the movement for Party rectification and improvement according to the spirit of the Party's Resolution.

2. Guidelines.

a) Emphasize prevention, develop the economy alongside addressing social issues such as employment, vocational training, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS prevention, drug control...

b) Clarify the responsibilities of each sector, level, and every citizen. Prevent and combat prostitution from the family, workplace, organization, school, and community to the village and ward levels. Launch continuous and extensive mass movements. The work of preventing and combating prostitution must be implemented comprehensively at all levels and sectors.

c) Integrate the Program for Preventing and Combating Prostitution with economic and social programs, and the nationwide movement for building a civilized lifestyle.

II. Objectives.

1. General objectives.

Prevent, block, and gradually reduce the prostitution evil. In areas where prostitution has not yet emerged, prevent its occurrence; in areas where prostitution exists but is not severe, actively struggle to eliminate it; in areas where prostitution is severe, resolutely struggle to fundamentally reduce the prostitution evil.

2. Specific objectives.

a) From 2001 - 2003 :

- Block the emergence, gradually reduce the number of current prostitutes. In the short term, by 2003, fundamentally eliminate prostitution among minors, students, and college students.

- Significantly reduce establishments violating prostitution, organizing disguised prostitution services, especially those under state-owned enterprises.

- Stop the involvement of officials and civil servants in prostitution.

b) From 2004 to 2005 :

Significantly reduce prostitution in urban areas, tourist zones, key locations, organized prostitution spots, and routes transporting women and children abroad for prostitution purposes.

III. Contents of the Action Program for Preventing and Combating Prostitution Include Main Activities.

1. Propaganda and Education on Preventing and Combating Prostitution.

2. Investigation, Statistics, Forecasting, and Analysis of Basic Characteristics of High-Risk Groups for Prostitution to Formulate Prevention Measures.

3. Building Villages and Organizations Free of Social Evils Linked to the Movement for Building Cultural Families; Cultivating a Civilized Lifestyle in Communities. 4. Inspection, Audit, Crackdown, and Strict Handling of Prostitution Crimes.

5. Prevention of Trafficking Women and Children for Prostitution Purposes.

6. Vocational Training, Job Creation, Poverty Reduction for High-Risk Groups.

7. Education, Treatment, Vocational Training, Job Creation, and Community Integration for Prostitutes.

8. Enhance the Competence of Cadres and Staff Engaged in Preventing and Combating Prostitution in Various Sectors and Localities. Invest Reasonably in Upgrading Facilities for Treating Prostitutes.

9. Strengthen International Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Prostitution, Trafficking Women and Children for Prostitution Purposes. IV. Urgent Solutions.

1. Information and Propaganda Work:

a) Continuously propagate through various media with appropriate formats and contents tailored to different target groups to raise awareness about prostitution evils so that individuals and families maintain healthy morals and lifestyles; commend good deeds and disseminate effective experiences in preventing and combating prostitution. At the same time, public opinion should strongly condemn individuals and organizations that violate or lack responsibility, weak management leading to the existence and proliferation of prostitution.

b) Incorporate anti-prostitution efforts into the work programs of Party organizations, mass organizations, and specialized bodies in accordance with the spirit of the Party's Resolution, the Ordinance on Public Servants, and the Ordinance on Anti-Corruption. Regularly self-criticize and criticize regarding moral character and lifestyle.

c) Closely combine propaganda and education with the movement for building cultural families and the nationwide campaign for the whole people to unite in building a civilized lifestyle; consolidate family institutions, enhance everyone's understanding of love, marriage, and sexual relations to build happy and stable families.

d) Mobilize the entire population to struggle against prostitution. Make this a key component of annual performance evaluations by Party committees, governments, and mass organizations. Promptly encourage, motivate, and reward collectives and individuals who perform well.

2. Strengthen State Management.

a) Local authorities must strengthen strict management, implement monitoring and inspection measures for business activities, restaurants, hotels, karaoke bars, massage parlors, etc., within their jurisdiction to prevent prostitution activities.

b) All business establishments must sign commitments not to allow prostitution activities and bear legal responsibility for violations.

c) Establishments employing waitresses, staff, dancers, etc., must enter into labor contracts, attach identity cards, and register lists with local police stations.

d) Organize inspections and supervision of cultural product circulation and cultural activities, promptly detect and handle acts of producing, trading, and using cultural products and activities with obscene content contrary to Vietnamese customs and traditions.

3. Strengthen Legal Frameworks for Preventing and Combating Prostitution.

a) Submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for promulgation of the Ordinance on Preventing and Combating Prostitution and amendments to certain provisions of the Ordinance on Administrative Violations.

b) Severely deal with violators of prostitution.

a) Submit to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly for promulgation of the Ordinance on Prevention and Control of Prostitution-related Social Evils and amendment and supplementation of certain points of the Ordinance on Handling Administrative Violations.

b) Strictly handle individuals who violate prostitution-related social evils.

- For those who run brothels, act as intermediaries, or provide protection: Strictly punish all acts of sexual abuse against children, intermediating, harboring, enticing, and deceiving children into prostitution; organizers of prostitution activities and repeat offenders in harboring and intermediating prostitution.

- For those who purchase sex: Must establish files and resolutely handle them according to the law. If they are officials or civil servants, report to their management agencies for education and strict handling in accordance with Directive No. 33/CT-TW and the Ordinance on Officials and Civil Servants. If they are not officials or civil servants, report to the local commune or ward authorities where they reside for management, education, and handling.

- For those who sell sex:

+ Must classify the level and causes of violations to have appropriate educational and rehabilitation measures:

For those who are impoverished, unemployed, and deceived, there should be measures for education, vocational training, job placement assistance, and support from families and communities to reform.

For those with loose lifestyles, lazy work habits, and those who sell sex for money, there must be focused education through labor, legal studies, moral cultivation, and vocational training to help them adjust their behavior and integrate into society.

- Competent agencies must establish complete files for those purchasing and selling sex immediately upon discovery and dismantling of prostitution dens. In cases where purchasers and sellers of sex do not have identification documents to base the file on, administrative detention may be temporarily imposed according to regulations for verification.

c) Firmly grasp the situation and concentrate efforts to dismantle prostitution dens at service establishments, businesses, and disguised prostitution spots:

- Closely monitor spots showing signs of prostitution, leading prostitutes along border lines, ports, sea ports, river ports, especially in the northern and southwestern borders.

- The Public Security sector shall coordinate with the Prosecution Office and Courts to expedite the investigation, prosecution, and timely trial of crimes related to prostitution.

4. Combating prostitution is closely linked to the nationwide movement to build a civilized lifestyle and the implementation of economic and social programs such as poverty alleviation, employment generation, and improving public awareness through specific mechanisms, policies, and measures at each locality to address the root causes of this social evil.

5. Enhance the capacity of cadres working in anti-prostitution efforts, particularly those at the commune and ward levels and those working in treatment facilities; allocate cadres, budget, and mechanisms and policies for cadres engaged in anti-prostitution work at the commune level; mobilize community resources at the commune level to actively participate in anti-prostitution tasks.

6. Increase investment in certain centers in key areas to ensure conditions for education, medical treatment, vocational training, job creation, and rehabilitation for individuals involved in prostitution.

Part Three

IMPLEMENTATION

I. Implementation - Management

The Program on Preventing and Combating Prostitution for the period 2001-2005 is a Action Program including many contents that need to be implemented in a coordinated and closely integrated manner between ministries, sectors, political and social organizations, etc...

To effectively implement the objectives of the Program, each ministry, sector, and mass organization, according to their functions and responsibilities, shall organize the implementation of specific tasks as follows:

1. Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs:

a) Coordinate with competent agencies to develop annual and phased plans for preventing and combating prostitution, submit them to the Prime Minister for approval; compile and report the results of implementation by ministries, sectors, and localities to the Government.

b) State management over education, treatment, vocational training, and reintegration into society for those selling sex; in the short term, direct the establishment of some centers in key areas for education, medical treatment, vocational training, and job creation for these individuals.

c) Guide and coordinate the implementation of plans to realize the program and integrate the Program on Preventing and Combating Prostitution with other programs such as Poverty Alleviation, Vocational Training and Employment Generation, Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Prevention and Control of Drug Abuse, and other economic and social programs.

d) Coordinate with the Government's Organizational and Cadre Department and relevant ministries, sectors, and mass organizations to study and develop mechanisms and policies for volunteer social work teams at the commune level.

đ) Implement international cooperation in preventing and combating prostitution.

2. Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism:

- Lead and direct the implementation of education and propaganda to raise awareness about preventing and combating prostitution, building new people, healthy lifestyles, cultural families, and villages; commend good deeds and persons; direct and launch creative works in literature and art on the theme of preventing and combating prostitution; create strong public condemnation and eradication of prostitution.

- Integrate the Action Program on Preventing and Combating Prostitution with programs on communication for preventing and controlling drug abuse; prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

- Lead and coordinate with relevant sectors to inspect and rectify cultural service establishments. Timely handle violators. Manage and prevent harmful and obscene cultural publications outside the mainstream. Develop regulations for coordination in managing and inspecting cultural business and service establishments.

3. Ministry of Public Security:

a) Investigate, crack down, and dismantle prostitution groups, networks, and spots.

b) Establish files to send individuals to treatment facilities or community-based education and management at communes, wards, and towns.

c) Coordinate with Border Guard Forces to combat and prevent the trafficking of women and children abroad for prostitution; link the Program on Preventing and Combating Prostitution with the Program on Crime Prevention.

d) Work together with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and related agencies to develop legal documents on preventing and combating prostitution; develop plans and programs for preventing prostitution during different periods; dispatch officers to cooperate in protecting treatment facilities when required.

4. Ministry of Justice: Coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities to develop and perfect the legal system on preventing and combating prostitution (Ordinance on Preventing and Combating Social Evils; Ordinance on Administrative Violation Handling, etc.); organize legal education and propaganda on preventing and combating prostitution.

5. Ministry of Health: Cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to examine, treat, and provide medical care for prostitutes at medical facilities; strengthen inspections of service permits and promptly address violations by massage and sauna service providers.

6. The Ministry of Education and Training: Study and develop educational programs on gender issues in schools. Implement preventive measures against prostitution among students and coordinate in developing educational materials, guidance, and training for social evil prevention staff.

7. The Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Health, and the General Department of Tourism: Rectify business registration and service permit issuance for establishments providing services. Strengthen management, inspection, and strictly handle violations. Establish coordination regulations between supervising sectors and local authorities in managing and inspecting business and service establishments.

8. The Ministry of Planning and Investment: Coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance to allocate annual budgets for the Action Program to prevent and combat prostitution. Participate in planning the annual implementation of the program with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Organize mobilization of domestic and foreign resources for anti-prostitution efforts.

9. The Ministry of Finance:

- Direct and guide financial agencies at all levels to ensure timely and adequate settlement of funds allocated from the state budget for preventing and combating social evils, including prostitution, according to annual plans for relevant ministries, sectors, and localities, and current state regulations; cooperate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to guide the use of funds collected from fines for social evil offenses and other sources.

- Lead coordination with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to build and submit to the Government mechanisms for allocating and mobilizing budgets for anti-prostitution efforts at local levels, particularly at the commune level.

10. The National Committee for Children's Protection and Care: Direct and coordinate with related ministries, sectors, and mass organizations to implement preventive measures against the violation of children's dignity and honor, especially sexual abuse, particularly for commercial purposes.

11. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies: Develop plans to direct the implementation of measures to combat prostitution within their respective responsibilities and authorities.

12. People's Committees at all levels:

- Chairpersons of People's Committees at all levels are responsible for organizing the comprehensive and integrated implementation of anti-prostitution activities alongside other socio-economic programs in their regions. Based on the Government's plan, actual conditions in their areas, they must develop action plans, direct, guide, inspect, and evaluate anti-prostitution activities of lower-level People's Committees. Particularly emphasize the role and responsibility of Commune-level People's Committee Chairpersons in understanding the prostitution situation in their jurisdictions, immediately implementing urgent measures to curb the spread of prostitution, and achieving the goals of the anti-prostitution action program at the commune level.

- Local governments must proactively allocate budgets annually for anti-prostitution activities beyond central support, while mobilizing community contributions.

- Establish and manage rehabilitation, education, vocational training, and job creation centers for individuals involved in prostitution.

13. Request the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy:

Strengthen directives to local agencies under their jurisdiction in investigation, prosecution, and trial of prostitution cases. Closely coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security, Border Guard Command, and related ministries and sectors to swiftly prosecute and try cases involving prostitution crimes, promptly and strictly handle violators to educate and deter criminals, and build public confidence in the fight against prostitution.

14. Request the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Veterans Association, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the Vietnam Women's Union, and the Communist Youth Central Committee of Ho Chi Minh: Closely coordinate with the Government and relevant ministries and sectors to direct mass organizations at all levels to strictly implement Directive No. 23/1998/CT-TTg dated May 20, 1998, on enhancing cooperation with the Vietnam Fatherland Front to promote the nationwide movement for building a civilized lifestyle, combining with campaigns to build healthy communes free of social evils, focusing on directing key and complex areas regarding prostitution. Launch a nationwide campaign to denounce, detect, and report prostitution crimes, educate prostitutes within communities, and collaborate with administrative authorities to effectively carry out anti-prostitution activities.

II. Funding for Implementation:

To ensure funding for the Program's activities, it is necessary to mobilize and utilize the following sources of funding:

1. Central funding : Annually, the central budget allocates targeted funding for key tasks to achieve the Program's objectives and plans (targeted funding).

"1. For funding allocated in the regular expenditure budget: the process of preparing the budget, managing, using, and settling accounts for funding shall be carried out in accordance with the Law on State Budget and guiding documents thereof. Agencies and units assigned the task of conducting vocational training at the primary level and under three months for urban women must prepare detailed budgets and send them to the finance authorities at the same level. The budget must include detailed explanations of the number of female workers expected to be trained and the training costs for each profession in the planning year, along with reports on the results and effectiveness of vocational training linked to employment targets for the current year to serve as the basis for allocating the budget." (including fines for social evils): Each locality must proactively develop plans and allocate budgets for anti-prostitution activities in their areas. Emphasize investment in building healthy communes free of social evils, upgrading education, treatment, and rehabilitation centers for prostitutes. Communes must allocate funds and mobilize contributions from economic and social organizations in their areas to address prostitution issues. Local budgets are crucial, coordinating with central funding and other sources to fund anti-prostitution activities according to annual plans of localities.

3. Community-raised funds: Is the funding raised from agencies, economic and social organizations, individuals, philanthropists, the public, families, and the subjects themselves. This is an important source of funding. There needs to be good mechanisms and measures to maximize mobilization and use it reasonably and effectively.

4. International sponsorship : Fully exploit international support and assistance for activities to prevent and combat prostitution. Focus these resources on research, training, experience enhancement, and international cooperation in preventing international prostitution activities.

Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall base their Prevention and Combating Prostitution Action Programs for their respective ministries, sectors, and localities on the Program for the period 2001-2005 ./