Vietnam is making greater efforts to prevent violence against women and girls in alignment with international standards, moving towards the elimination of gender-based violence, said Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Nguyen Thi Ha.

Ha was speaking at a three-day training course jointly held by MoLISA and UN agencies in Hanoi on May 11-13, which focused on strengthening the capacity for prevention of violence against women based on the “Respect Women” framework.

Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the UNDP Caitlin Wiesen (left) and Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha of MoLISA speak at the training course. Photo: MoLISA

Ha stated that despite numerous efforts in adopting solutions, the situation of gender-based violence globally as well as in Vietnam has been quite persistent.

“We also need to reinforce the initiatives that address potential risk factors of violence. Perpetrators need to be strictly punished whilst survivors of violence need to be protected and their life must be stabilized,” she said.

“To that end, we need to do better prevention work to minimize the negative consequences of violence coupled with the vulnerability of each individual and the society, in which community-based approach and intersectoral participation play a very substantial role,” Ha stressed.

In her remarks at the training course, Acting United Nations Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Caitlin Wiesen highlighted that many women and girls are not reached through services alone.

“Therefore, it is urgent that we advance work on preventing violence before it occurs. Prevention is pivotal to eliminating violence against women and girls completely. Prevention requires political commitment, implementing laws that promote gender equality, investing in women’s organizations, and addressing the multiple forms of discrimination women face daily,” said Caitlin Wiesen.

Participants attend the training course. Photo: UN Women

Through this training course, the capacities of more than 50 participants from ministries, sectors, and central and local agencies actively working in gender-based violation prevention and response have been enhanced in preventing gender-based violence in Vietnam in a comprehensive approach including strengthening relationship skills; empowering women and girls; services ensured; poverty reduced; creation of safe and enabling environments; child and adolescent abuse behaviors prevention; transformed attitudes, beliefs, and norms.

The National Study on Violence against Women in Vietnam in 2019 shows that nearly two in every three women (nearly 63%) have experienced one or more forms of physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence by a husband/partner in their life.

Besides, more than 90% of women who experienced sexual and/or physical violence by their husband/partner did not seek any help from formal services or authorities.

“Respect Women” is the acronym for the theoretical and practical framework developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in 2019.

“Respect Women” is in alignment with the principles of respect and equality as well as evidence-based lessons taken from effective interventions to prevent violence against women globally.

Elisa Fernandez, Country Representative of UN Women in Vietnam, speaks at the event.