Vulnerable Populations

RDMA assists vulnerable populations by helping to prevent trafficking in persons and by helping marginalized communities such as ethnic minorities, victims of conflict, and the poor.

Preventing Human Trafficking

Trafficking in persons involves victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Annually, nearly 800,000 people – mostly women and children – are trafficked across national borders, excluding millions of people who are trafficked within their own countries. The U.S. Government plays a critical role in the fight against trafficking in persons and USAID is uniquely positioned to take action on this issue across Asia. By nature, trafficking in persons is a regional problem affecting mostly poor and middle-class victims. It often involves using developing countries as transit points to wealthy destination countries. Prevention, protection and prosecution programs benefit from a regional perspective working across national borders. USAID supports a pan-Asian anti-trafficking media campaign to raise awareness about and increase prevention of human trafficking in Asia.  

Helping Marginalized Communities

Uneven economic growth, ethnic tensions, political repression, human rights abuses and the aftermath of war in Southeast Asia all put stress on vulnerable communities such as those of Burmese migrants, ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and war victims in Laos. USAID works to improve conditions for these groups. In southern Thailand, USAID has established educational reform and civil society activities to reduce conflict and to counter terrorist propaganda through increased dialogue between the Islamic community and the Government of Thailand.

Current Activities

• USAID-MTV Pan-Asian End Trafficking and Exploitation Campaign
• Burma: Advocacy for Migrant Rights in Thailand
• Laos: Supporting War Victims and People with Disabilities
• Vietnam: Creating Better Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and Ethnic Minorities

Vulnerable Populations Articles

• USAID & MTV Join Forces to Fight Human Trafficking in Asia
• Three U.S. Grants Enhance Health and Create Jobs for the Disabled in Danang, Vietnam
• USAID-Funded Boarding School for Disadvantaged Opens in Kon Tum Province
• United States Supports Vietnamese with Disabilities
• Placebo Headlines First-ever Rock Concert at Angkor Wat to Raise Awareness about Human Trafficking
• USAID and MTV Jointly Stage Cambodian Drive To End Human Trafficking
• USAID Supports Marketing of Traditionally-raised Poultry to Fight Bird Flu
• USAID and MTV EXIT Release Animated Film to Raise Awareness about Human Trafficking
• United States Renews Call for Education Public-Private Alliance Project Proposals