Human trafficking and slavery is a global phenomenon that straddles many geographic locations and crosses several country borders. One of the key areas World Vision currently works in is the Mekong Delta region in Southeast Asia. We're beginning to see some real progress.

The Mekong Delta region incorporates Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. In these countries, growing numbers of children are being recruited and deceived by brokers or pimps into forced labour or sexual servitude. Many are subjected to unimaginable physical and mental abuse and remain trapped indefinitely.

The Mekong Delta Trafficking Project focuses on protection, community prevention activities for children at risk, and reintegration for people already caught up in exploitative situations.

The Mekong Delta Trafficking Project, supported by World Vision Child Rescue, works to prevent child trafficking and exploitation in the following ways:

• providing communities with information, resources and support so they know how to protect at-risk children 
• prevention programs and education for children in high-risk areas
• referral services and reintegration programs for trafficking survivors to enable them to make a smoother transition back into their home communities

The program also works at grass-roots level with local governments, aid organisations and communities to help prevent traffickers from gaining access to vulnerable children and adults.