Dang Hoang Oanh from the Vietnam Ministry of Justice (MOJ) made the statement on October 30 at a signing ceremony between Vietnam and the UN for an agreement aimed at preventing violence against women and ensuring them access to justice.
 

Oanh said the agreement would help Vietnam build and complete its legal system related to domestic violence prevention, with a view to realizing the country’s set targets in the national gender equality strategy in the period from 2011–2020.

It would also facilitate the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Oanh said.

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Chief Representative in Vietnam Shoko Ishikawa in turn said the agreement was reached to help the nation overcome obstacles and barriers women face in accessing justice.

Ishikawa affirmed UN Women would assist the MOJ in improving the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, with a focus on combating violence against women and raising capacity for justice officers in dealing with cases related to violence against women.

This is part of an effort by UN Women and other partners for promoting gender equality through law building and amendment in Vietnam, Ishikawa added.