Vietnam Focuses on Improving Quality and Speeding Up Trials for Prostitution-Related Cases

The Steering Committee for Crime Prevention Programs of the Supreme People's Court of Vietnam has developed a plan to implement the 2026-2030 Prostitution Prevention and Control Program across the entire court system. This plan aims to enhance the quality of trials for prostitution-related cases, ensure uniformity in legal application, and strengthen the effectiveness of prostitution prevention and control activities in the new context. Plan No. 477/KH-TANDTC was developed based on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's Decision approving the 2026-2030 Prostitution Prevention and Control Program. The court sector will focus on synchronously and uniformly implementing assigned tasks, improving the quality of resolution and trial of prostitution-related cases. This ensures strict legal enforcement, avoids overlooking crimes, and prevents wrongful convictions. It also aims to severely punish individuals involved in organizing, leading, and brokering prostitution to enhance deterrence and prevention. Furthermore, the court sector will continue to review and perfect legal institutions to ensure uniform legal application in trial activities. It will promote legal dissemination and education through trial activities, accelerate the application of information technology and digital transformation, and enhance coordination with ministries, sectors, and localities in prostitution prevention and control. To achieve these goals, the plan outlines seven key groups of tasks and solutions. Units under the Supreme People's Court, People's Courts, and Military Courts at all levels will strictly adhere to the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws on crime and social vice prevention. The task of preventing and controlling prostitution will be integrated into annual work programs. Inspection and supervision will be strengthened to promptly address difficulties and obstacles during implementation. Regarding trial quality, the plan requires courts at all levels to focus on resolving prostitution-related cases and strictly punishing acts of organizing, brokering, and facilitating prostitution, as well as related crimes. The set targets include resolving 100% of cases within legal time limits, issuing timely decisions for the execution of sentences for 100% of convicted individuals with effective judgments. Additionally, the plan emphasizes expanding experience-sharing trials and online trials to improve trial quality, accelerate case resolution, and reduce litigation costs. The plan also highlights the task of strengthening the summary of trial practices, reviewing legal regulations, developing case law, and advising on uniform legal application. Local courts are responsible for promptly synthesizing difficulties and issues arising in practice to report to the Supreme People's Court for consideration, guidance, or recommendations for amendments and improvements to the law by competent authorities. Legal dissemination and education activities will continue to be intensified, focusing on content that reflects the Party's policies, State laws, and the results of the fight against prostitution. The effectiveness of dissemination through trial activities, public pronouncements of judgments, online trials, experience-sharing trials, and other appropriate legal dissemination methods will also be leveraged. In addition, the court sector will enhance coordination with ministries, sectors, and localities in information exchange, practical summarization, and implementation of tasks within their respective functions. International cooperation will be expanded to secure resources for technical assistance, training, and experience sharing, contributing to improved capacity in resolving and trying prostitution-related cases, human trafficking for prostitution purposes, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of victims. Source: Nhan Dan