On November 1, 2016 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the Vietnam Automobile Transportation Association (VATA) and the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (Traffic) jointly organised a workshop on "Risk Management for transportation and logistics companies and CSR in reducing the demand for illegally traded wildlife products.”
Attending companies said that there is a need for integrating the protection of wildlife animals and plants into corporate social responsibility (CSR). Mr Hoang Tong, Chairman of the Board of Management of Hoang Kim Transport Cooperative, said transportation risks are varied and plentiful. Therefore, raising the awareness of drivers is essential.
The cooperative has been propagating laws to executives and drivers and applying internal regulations to inhibit drivers from carrying prohibited items. Educating drivers to understand policies, regulations and laws of Vietnam and international commitments is important.
Many delegates at the workshop said, to force enterprises strictly observe the law in transportation business and limit risks, it is necessary to communicate on consequences of trafficking illicit goods. Authorities and businesses need to inform drivers active on mountain roads and frontier roads to remind them of respecting the law in transport business.
Besides, strict penalties should be imposed on violators. The Criminal Code 2015 has been revised and expected to take effect in 2017. Therefore, this will be the basis for increasing deterrence to acts of trafficking, stockpiling and using wildlife animals. Imprisonment term is revised up from 7 years to 15 years and fine is also increased to VND15 billion.
Ms Nguyen Thi Tuyet Trinh, Senior Programme Officer for Traffic in Vietnam, said that the adoption of currently drafted Criminal Code will contribute to the conservation and the fight against crimes of trading and transporting wildlife animals.
“Currently, Traffic is focusing on changing consumer behaviours in Vietnam in order to help them with a new look and perception of true effects of wildlife animals. Companies play a very important role in sustainable development because wildlife animals can be a supply source for companies to make products and their operations may be harmful to the environment and damaging to wild animals. We are calling the private sector to participate in this campaign,” she said.
This is an important step as Vietnam is in the process of joining the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP includes stipulations on wildlife protection where each country is required to fulfil its obligations under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. Countries in the TPP must combat and take measures to prevent illegal wildlife trade.
N.P
Vietnamese
