Ninh Binh, October 12-13, 2023, Wildlife Conservation Society, Viet Nam Office (WCS Viet Nam) and the Law Protection Newspaper, Supreme People’s Procuracy cohost a training on “Enhancing the effectiveness of communication in combating illegal wildlife trade for prosecutors, reporters and editors”. 30 participants who are prosecutors, reporters and editors from the Law Protection Newspaper, People's Procuracy Magazine, and People's Court Magazine and representatives of local communication teams of People's Procuracy from seven illegal wildlife trade (IWT) hotspot provinces attended the training.
Ms.Phan Thi Kim Hoa, Deputy Editor of LPN deliver an opening speech, Ninh Binh, October 12, 2023
At the training, participants are briefed on the role and the challenges of prosecutors and other judicial officers in different stages of the criminal procedure in general and in handling IWT cases, in specific. They also review wildlife trade situation in Viet Nam, its seriousness and IWT related risks including zoonotic risks, and other related crimes such as economic crimes, environmental crimes, public safety and public order crimes, and cybercrimes, corruption, and money laundering crimes. Participants work in groups to brainstorm ideas and develop communication plans to improve the effectiveness of communication on preventing and combating IWT through the media and communication channels for prosecutors, other judicial officers and local people.
Group discussion on developing article and communication activities on wildlife protection, Ninh Binh, October 2023
The training course also provides participants with data journalism tools and highlights issues in local communication activities. Participants have chances to apply these skills to develop journalism topics targeting prosecutors, other judicial officers and communication plans targeting local communities. Participants also discuss issues in the handling evidence from IWT cases including live animal and wildlife products with wildlife rescue centers in Cuc Phuong National Park.
After the training course, WCS will work closely with these reporters, editors and local communication teams to develop and disseminate articles; and to develop communication campaigns targeting community people in preventing and combating IWT in the provinces as one of the tasks of provincial prosecutors.
The training was a part of the project “Scaling up efforts to counter wildlife trafficking in Viet Nam” funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State, implemented by WCS Viet Nam.