Latest
Press Release
17 May 2022
The UN in Viet Nam promotes the health, dignity and rights of LGBTI persons this International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia And Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2022
Learn more
Video
15 April 2022
Accessible building for all (with voice over) | Tòa nhà Xanh thân thiện dành cho tất cả mọi người - (bản thuyết minh)
Learn more
Video
15 April 2022
Accessible building for all | Tòa nhà Xanh thân thiện dành cho tất cả mọi người
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Viet Nam
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Viet Nam.
Story
14 December 2020
Sex workers must not be left behind
Sex workers are exposed to gender-based violence easily as a consequence of social stigma and illegal status of sex work. “Once, a client kept me in a room for 2 hours forcefully. He beat me up.” memorized by An (not her real name), a street-based sex worker in Viet Nam.
“I cannot report to the police because sex work is illegal.” Spending all her time making a living, she did not have any information where she could turn to for getting support. Her family didn’t know her occupation. So, she kept the traumatizing experience to herself only.
An is the breadwinner supporting the livelihood of her mother and a 5-year-old son. COVID-19 has hit the poorest and the most vulnerable the hardest. During the social distancing policy, only three regular clients. She begged her clients to pay an extra 50,000 VND on the 100,000 VND fee each time. Yet, the house rent and utilities still cost her 1.2 million VND monthly. Her meager earnings can hardly support their living expenses and her son’s school fee.
Fortunately, her son’s school principal and their landlord were aware of their hardship. They allow An to pay back the fees when her financial condition improves. Up till now, An is still struggling to earn a sufficient income to support her family.
Thuy (not her real name) faces a similar situation in the other province in the Mekong Delta. Due to the financial difficulties of her family, Thuy dropped out of her junior high school to work. She is now a single mother of a three-year-old and a six-year-old. She works as a sex worker and part-time housemaid. The clients at sex work pay her 150,000 VND each time, but Thuy needs to pay for the room and condoms. Taking care of her children, she cannot spare much time working and earning money.
In early 2019, Thuy encountered an offer. “The people promised me to get a well-paid job in China,” said Thuy. After her neighbor agreed to take care of her children, she followed those people to China, wishing for better incomes. She revealed, “In China, I was kept in a house and forced to sell sex.” Thuy was trafficked to China for six months.
Thuy was rescued thanks to a joint effort of public security forces and returned to Viet Nam in December 2019. Life in her hometown became even more challenging. Thuy bitterly shared, “I become notorious because people in my community spread rumors behind me. Most people were not willing to get close to me.”
Shortly, the COVID-19 health crisis and destructive typhoon further halted her sources of income. “Struggling to feed my two children, I started asking for rice everywhere, sometimes in the pagodas, sometimes at the tea stalls along the pavement.” said Thuy, who is looking pale and drawn. “I have even thought of committing suicide. Life is too harsh to me.”
The social and economic fallout from the pandemic disproportionately affected the livelihood of sex workers. The risk of violence against them has raised. Due to stigma, discrimination, and illegal status of sex work, it’s usually very difficult for sex workers to access social protection in case of violence.
Everyone, including sex workers, is entitled to work decently with dignity and safety. Collective efforts are needed to protect sex workers from violence. The United Nations, joining other organizations* supporting the rights of sex workers, calls for zero discrimination against for sex workers and equal access to health care and social support for every people.
*The sex workers featured in this story have been reached by the Viet Nam Network of Self-help Groups of Sex Workers (VNSW) and received joint support from UNAIDS and VNSW for mitigation of the impacts of COVID-19
1 of 3
Press Release
12 May 2020
Việt Nam’s COVID-19 crisis response can increase opportunities for the country to emerge as a leader at regional and global levels
In addition to carrying out its significant and important responsibilities as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2020-21 period and as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Việt Nam has, so far, done remarkably well in responding to COVID-19 by deploying a series of early, proactive, consistent and effective strategies.
However, real challenges still remain, including on the socio-economic front and in terms of building back differently and better while staying on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN stands ready to continue to support Việt Nam as it seeks to meet these challenges and achieve its ‘new normal’.
Việt Nam had prepared well in advance for its heavy and challenging political responsibilities in the global arena in 2020.
In January, Việt Nam began its rare twin-responsibilities of being both a rotating non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (for 2020-21) and the ASEAN Chair for 2020 simultaneously.
The country was immediately thrust into the global spotlight while assuming the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of January for alphabetical reasons.
Leading the Security Council in its discussions and resolutions on such sensitive matters as the Libyan peace process, and continuing conflicts in Syria and Yemen, Việt Nam skillfully navigated challenging, tricky waters on the world stage.
The highlight of the month was an open debate in early January, presided by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh, at which UN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, and to an international order based on international law as the indispensable foundation of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. The crux of the discussion was to emphasise the importance of multilateralism and global solidarity.
The message from this open debate at the Security Council chaired by Việt Nam resonates more than ever now, at the time of COVID-19. As Việt Nam was embarking on its ambitious goals at the regional and global levels, COVID-19 appeared in the country on January 23.
Việt Nam then sprang into action. Its early, proactive, consistent, robust, strategic and effective measures to contain two phases of the virus have, so far, resulted in less than 300 cases of confirmed infections, zero deaths, and over an 80 per cent recovery rate, despite sharing a long land border with China which was the original epicentre of COVID-19.
Nonetheless, the pandemic has been ruthless in its disruption of the global economy, and Việt Nam, which is significantly integrated into global value chains, has already experienced the initial impacts of this. Yet, Việt Nam thus far appears to have been able to largely flatten the epidemic curve without exhibiting a steep economic impact curve because of a combination of its effective measures with respect to the pandemic, the provision of a US$2.6 billion social protection cash package for vulnerable population groups, and a relatively quick, yet measured, return to near normal once the outbreak was largely contained last month.
I congratulate the people and the Government of Việt Nam on their tremendous achievement in responding to and addressing the crisis thus far. At the same time, I must emphasise that there are still many real challenges the country faces both immediately and in the coming months.
They include avoiding another significant wave of infections, minimising the severity of the negative economic impact, and kick-starting the socio-economic recovery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, whilst taking care of the most vulnerable and leaving no one behind.
I would like to think that by leveraging its successful response so far, at least some of the challenges and difficulties caused by COVID-19 can be turned into real opportunities, through which Việt Nam, through a whole-of-political system and whole-of-society approach, transforms the crisis into a better future for its citizens, especially the most vulnerable, emerging as a leader at both regional and global levels in the post-COVID-19 world.
Allow me to focus on a few key priorities at this critical juncture. First, strengthening health systems needs to remain the top priority. The Government of Việt Nam is now better prepared for any eventuality regarding COVID-19 than it was in January, with its public health sector having performed impressively thus far. In light of the unpredictable nature of the virus, however, we must all remain vigilant and take all possible preventive measures.
While taking care of the crisis on the domestic front, Việt Nam has provided PPE and medical supplies to a number of countries, in particular in Europe, and also made a generous contribution to the WHO, which I have warmly welcomed.
There are many lessons from Việt Nam’s COVID-19 response which should be shared with the rest of the world on how to contain pandemics and infectious diseases based on both its previous SARS and now COVID-19 experiences. The WHO and the UN as a whole are prioritising sharing its good practices in this area.
Second, Việt Nam needs to prioritise both its socio-economic recovery and building back differently and better. Like in other parts of the world, the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 may be felt in Việt Nam for a long time. Since the country is about to score a victory over the second wave of COVID-19, the road to full socio-economic recovery should become the real focus in the immediate weeks and months.
In light of the disruptions in global supply chains and international trade, on which it significantly depends, Việt Nam could consider taking urgent system-wide measures, such as increasing financial support for domestic micro, small and medium enterprises to enable them to remain solvent and reduce unemployment. Priority should be placed on those that can provide both significant formal employment and domestic value-added backward linkages for key strategic global supply chains prioritising in green technologies and agricultural value-added industries in which Việt Nam has clear competitive advantages.
Consideration should also be given to temporary tax and fiscal measures which encourage employment and labour intensive public investment. It will be a major achievement if Việt Nam can continue to keep the epidemic curve flat whilst simultaneously avoiding a steep economic recession curve. This is a realistic possibility in its case which cannot be said for most countries in the world. If it is able to achieve this by end-2020, Việt Nam will once again show itself to be a regional and global leader.
All of this must be done whilst ensuring that the most vulnerable sections of society, who may have been hit hard in the last few months, are not further left behind. Crucially, this COVID-19 crisis cannot be allowed to further increase inequalities and reverse the progress Việt Nam has made over the last few decades to combat extreme poverty and advance gender equality. Together with the Government, the UN is also committed to continuing to push forward towards achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring that all Vietnamese people fully enjoy their fundamental rights.
In the medium- to long-term, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Việt Nam will also need to respond to the non-COVID urgent crises which it faces, such as addressing the complex causes of drought and salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta by enacting long-term sustainable development changes which mitigate the effects of climate change and move the country towards a more inclusive, renewable energy-based greener economy.
Based on the UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19, which was launched by the UN Deputy-Secretary-General in late April, the UN stands ready to make its wide array of expertise available to the Government and people of Việt Nam in support of their efforts to ‘build back better’ and bounce back strongly.
At the regional level, I have observed that Việt Nam is showing its keenness to lead ASEAN towards recovery and stability. As the ASEAN Chair, as soon as the impact of COVID-19 was felt, Việt Nam began leading a series of ASEAN meetings, and held a virtual ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Plus Three Summit on 14 April to strengthen regional cooperation, and more importantly, catalyse co-operation on the post-pandemic economic response and recovery. Specifically, a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund for public health emergencies will be established under its leadership, and a regional stockpile of medical supplies will be set up for future epidemics.
Its role at the regional level builds on the second open debate at the UN Security Council Việt Nam presided over in late January. This focused on ASEAN-UN co-operation for the first time, including peaceful settlement of disputes, preventive diplomacy, disarmament, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and maritime co-operation.
The debate touched on such issues as the East Sea (South China Sea) and the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, as well as the importance of the SDGs and their interlinkages with peace and security. Given its dual regional and global roles in 2020, and also because it appears to be coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of many other countries, Việt Nam is in a position to play a leading role both at regional and global levels, bringing synergy and cohesiveness between ASEAN and the UN in tackling some of the most critical and sensitive issues which intersect both levels.
This year, we are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN. Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated more vividly than any other issue why we need global co-operation and solidarity anchored in the United Nations. The issue is not whether we need the UN, but how we can strengthen, and yes, reform it - to meet the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century. The UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit Việt Nam in November to attend the ASEAN Summit and related summits.
I sincerely hope that the November visit will provide an opportunity for Việt Nam, ASEAN and the UN to strengthen their commitment to multilateralism and global solidarity in a tangible manner, reinforcing Việt Nam’s role in the region and allowing it to make even greater contributions to the rest of the world, given its rich experiences and many successes both recently and over the last few decades.
*Kamal Malhotra is UN resident co-ordinator in Việt Nam
Original Op-ed published on Viet Nam News: https://bit.ly/2SXpzUD
1 of 3
Story
18 November 2020
The UN in Viet Nam dragon boat promotes One UN Spirit for UN75 and Sustainable Development Goals
In November, the weather in Viet Nam turns cooler in the northern provinces allowing people to enjoy outdoor activities after a long and hot summer. The 2020 Dragon Boat Race was organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee on 14 November 2020 calling both amateur and professional paddlers and athletes to compete in the West Lake – one of the signatures of Hanoi.
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, UN staff in Viet Nam organized a dragon boat team to represent the United Nations in the amateur race and promote Sustainable Development Goals. Comprised of 14 members of six nationalities from seven UN agencies, the team practiced during weekends and early in the morning to come together as One UN and paddle in harmony.
“The most important thing in dragon boat is that you must paddle together in sync to give it the speed. You can have 10 physically fit people, but the boat will not go forward unless you are paddling as if you are one person. It’s just like how different UN agencies are working together for the same goal of supporting Viet Nam,” said Tran Quynh Hoa, ILO Communications Officer who initiated the idea and a regular rower.
The core message of the United Nations in 2020 has been solidarity and global cooperation. The Secretary-General reiterated the message in his speeches for the General Assembly and many High-Level events that there is no way for the world to overcome global challenges and the pandemic without putting the people at the center calling for stronger and greater solidarity to overcome global crises and to build back better.
“I am very proud of our One UN team who participated in the Race, and it shows that we are more beautiful and stronger together. We are all set to help Viet Nam achieve SDGs by 2030!” said Kamal Malhotra, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam.
“I am glad that we could represent the United Nations and promote SDGs to the public who joined and observed the race. I believe the team manifested solidarity and how a group of people from different nationality, background and organization can come together to fight for a common goal. And we had a lot of fun together as One UN Dragon Boat Team,” said Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative and Chair of UN Communications Group who joined the team as drummer. Naomi was wrapped in SDGs flag to bring more visibility to the team.
In previous years, the city had organized the Dragon Boat Festival for both national and international teams to join. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city only invited teams in Viet Nam to stimulate domestic tourism and promote the spirit of culture and sports for local Vietnamese to participate and enjoy. As of 14 November, Viet Nam had gone almost 90 days without local transmission of COVID-19.
More photos can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSbHRBa
1 of 3
Story
03 December 2021
HIV risk is real due to gaps in sexual health and HIV literacy among young people in Viet Nam
Within the framework of the 2021 UN Free & Equal campaign, the Viet Nam Network of Young Key Populations (VYKAP) organized outreach, information sharing, and counseling on HIV and safe sex on 6 November 2021.
This community-led activity provided a reliable and reassuring environment for the youngsters to have HIV screening, with pre-test counseling and guaranteed confidentiality of the information.
Two university students among those who volunteered for HIV screening tests turned out reactive. Confirmatory tests were done and results were positive.
Mai (not her real name) is a transgender woman who was assigned male at birth in 2003 and she was raised as a boy in a suburban district of Hanoi. She started being sexually active at the age of 15 with a male sexual partner. After moving away from family to study college in Hanoi downtown, she connected with multiple sex partners through social media platforms.
Mai “filtered” her sex partners simply by observing if there are any antiretroviral drugs at the persons’ place, without explicitly checking their HIV status or viral load. Tested as HIV-negative in her first self-screening test in May this year, she did not use condoms consistently with her sex partners from that time to October, which was the period of the fourth wave of COVID19 in Viet Nam.
“Is HIV infection caused by the scratches when I fell down on the street near the trash collection area, or the bruises I got in the cafeteria?” Instead of attributing to her unprotected sexual behaviors, she falsely suspected that her HIV infection was caused by her minor abrasions in the first place. The fragmented or lack of comprehensive sexual health
education knowledge hampered the ability of the youngster to take effective HIV harm
reduction and health care measures. Although she has come actress various sexual and reproductive health information through the MSM community’s social media platforms at a very young age, her knowledge of HIV is still inadequate and shallow. There is also a gap between her HIV knowledge, her mindset, and skills in practicing safe sex measures consistently. Another HIV-positive case is Duc (not his real name), who was born and grew up in a northern mountainous province in Viet Nam. The 21-year-old man nearly fled from the testing booth out of shock when he received his HIV-reactive result. Realizing his attraction to men at the age of 18, Duc started to be sexually active. Mistaking that homosexual behavior is less risky than heterosexual behavior, he did not use condoms and other protective measures regularly. It was his very first time to receive HIV information, counseling, and screening test. “HIV is always associated with sex work and drug use. To avert peer discrimination, I tried all means to hide the fact that I am taking ARV drugs.” Duc shares, “I feel like I can never love again.” Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are especially at high risk of HIV transmission. According to the Viet Nam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC), more than 79% of
newly diagnosed HIV-infected cases in the first nine months of 2019 were through sexual
contacts, while transmission through drug injection accounted for only 9.9%. HIV prevalence among the MSM group rose from 5.7% in 2015 to 13.3% in 2020. Some limited available data in Ho Chi Minh City suggested that HIV prevalence among surveyed transgender women can be as high as 16% -18%. “Comprehensive sexuality education in particular knowledge and skills for practicing safer sex is essential to equip the young key populations properly for safer sex behaviors and HIV prevention.”, said Mr. Vu Tran Dzung, Viet Nam Network of Young Key Affected Population (VYKAP). UN in Viet Nam is calling for greater efforts in filling the gap of knowledge on sexuality, sexual and reproductive health both in school and outside of school. Comprehensive sexuality education is a vital intervention—to prevent HIV among young people and also to empower young people to recognize and protect their overall sexual health and well-being. With comprehensive and accurate knowledge, young people can make responsible and safer decisions about sex and their sexuality.
Reference UNFE (2021). 2021 UN FREE & EQUAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: FOR SAFER SCHOOLS FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE. Access from: https://vietnam.un.org/en/156414-2021-un-free-equal-campaign-launch-safer-schools-lgbtiq-people?fbclid=IwAR2SpQBNm999FKGt8TSEOEUyembGTsOc-RnzTNjMllfVXd1qtNnDr7SrHkM
education knowledge hampered the ability of the youngster to take effective HIV harm
reduction and health care measures. Although she has come actress various sexual and reproductive health information through the MSM community’s social media platforms at a very young age, her knowledge of HIV is still inadequate and shallow. There is also a gap between her HIV knowledge, her mindset, and skills in practicing safe sex measures consistently. Another HIV-positive case is Duc (not his real name), who was born and grew up in a northern mountainous province in Viet Nam. The 21-year-old man nearly fled from the testing booth out of shock when he received his HIV-reactive result. Realizing his attraction to men at the age of 18, Duc started to be sexually active. Mistaking that homosexual behavior is less risky than heterosexual behavior, he did not use condoms and other protective measures regularly. It was his very first time to receive HIV information, counseling, and screening test. “HIV is always associated with sex work and drug use. To avert peer discrimination, I tried all means to hide the fact that I am taking ARV drugs.” Duc shares, “I feel like I can never love again.” Young men who have sex with men (MSM) are especially at high risk of HIV transmission. According to the Viet Nam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC), more than 79% of
newly diagnosed HIV-infected cases in the first nine months of 2019 were through sexual
contacts, while transmission through drug injection accounted for only 9.9%. HIV prevalence among the MSM group rose from 5.7% in 2015 to 13.3% in 2020. Some limited available data in Ho Chi Minh City suggested that HIV prevalence among surveyed transgender women can be as high as 16% -18%. “Comprehensive sexuality education in particular knowledge and skills for practicing safer sex is essential to equip the young key populations properly for safer sex behaviors and HIV prevention.”, said Mr. Vu Tran Dzung, Viet Nam Network of Young Key Affected Population (VYKAP). UN in Viet Nam is calling for greater efforts in filling the gap of knowledge on sexuality, sexual and reproductive health both in school and outside of school. Comprehensive sexuality education is a vital intervention—to prevent HIV among young people and also to empower young people to recognize and protect their overall sexual health and well-being. With comprehensive and accurate knowledge, young people can make responsible and safer decisions about sex and their sexuality.
Reference UNFE (2021). 2021 UN FREE & EQUAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCH: FOR SAFER SCHOOLS FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE. Access from: https://vietnam.un.org/en/156414-2021-un-free-equal-campaign-launch-safer-schools-lgbtiq-people?fbclid=IwAR2SpQBNm999FKGt8TSEOEUyembGTsOc-RnzTNjMllfVXd1qtNnDr7SrHkM
1 of 5
Story
01 December 2021
Access to multi-day take-home methadone doses amid COVID-19 lockdowns
Minh (not his real name) grew up in Ho Chi Minh City as the only son in his family, being indulged. The beginning of his addiction went back to his teenage years. Under his peers’ influence, he started smoking heroin. As time went on, his obsession intensified, and the time of sobriety shortened. He spent his days deluging with the rush of euphoria by injecting heroin.
Minh’s battle with addiction was a struggle for his family as well. Relying on his father’s earnings, his family maintained a rather good financial status. He kept turning to his family for money to meet his mounting demands for heroin doses. Finally, after all the futile attempts to help Minh out of the addiction, his parents gave up on him.
COVID19 raged across Viet Nam and deprived his father’s life in April 2021. Everything he had taken for granted collapsed. Not until that moment did he realize the responsibility of taking care of the family weighed on him. He voluntarily participated in the methadone maintenance therapy in a nearby clinic.
By June 2021, he regularly took a dose of methadone every day. He worked as a motorbike driver for Grab company, which provides ride-hailing and delivery services. The average income was around 200,000 VND- 300,000 VND per day. He earned 7million Vietnamese Dong for a month, which is quite a significant amount for him as a person who used drugs and relied on family for a living. Soon, as the lockdown rule tightened in July, transportation was dispensed, activities on the street were banned and Minh lost his job. He could barely go to the out-patient clinic to take the daily methadone doses, and not to mention to make a living.
The strict social distancing rules enforcement created barriers to the patients to get their daily medication. The Ministry of Health quickly issued a letter to all provinces allowing for the implementation of multi-day take-home methadone doses as an emergency response to ensure continuity of access to HIV harm reduction in the context of COVID19 control measures. The initiative was immediately embraced by Ho Chi Minh City, the most severely impacted by the pandemic, with specific technical guidance from the Viet Nam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) under the Ministry of Health.
As part of UN support for this initiative in Ho Chi Minh City, WHO and UNAIDS mobilized bottles of methadone for take-home doses until the end of October 2021. In cooperation with VNP+, UNAIDS also provided subsidies for the monthly fee (330,000 VND to 350,000 VND) to methadone patients most in need. The funding helped fill in the gaps of MMT commodity and lessen the financial barrier that may jeopardize people who use drugs adherence to methadone treatment.
Through the multi-day take-home methadone doses program, many patients like Minh, who were on the pathway to recovery, could maintain access to the health services essential for their well-being. Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) could decrease the injection of drugs and there to moderate HIV risk behaviors and increase access to HIV-related health services among people who use drugs.
“Multi-day take-home methadone doses program and the subsidy of monthly methadone fee for clients most in need are timely compatible measure in response to COVID19 lockdowns.” Said Nguyen Anh Phong, representative of VNP+ in Ho Chi Minh City, “We as community workers have witnessed so many challenges faced by people living with HIV and key populations and their despair in the raging of COVID-19. We are thankful for agile HIV policy response and all the emergency support including from UNAIDS in the context of COVID-19**. We welcome to see differentiated HIV service delivery such as take-home methadone doses becoming a regular option.”
UNAIDS also joins efforts with UNODC and WHO to advocate for the institutionalization of a multi-day take-home methadone program in Viet Nam for people who use/inject drugs to receive their essential medication with minimized time cost, better medication adherence, and greater integration in social life.
*VNP+: Vietnam Network of People living with HIV
** UNAIDS has been providing emergency health/HIV/STIs and daily necessities support packages for people living with HIV and most affected by HIV in the context of COVID-19 Reference: UNAIDS (2017). Methadone. Access from: https://www.unaids.org/en/file/111118 UNODC (2021). UNODC Supports Harm Reduction in Viet Nam Through Take-Home Methadone Doses. Access from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2021/February/unodc-supports-harm-reduction-in-viet-nam-through-take-home-methadone-doses.html
*VNP+: Vietnam Network of People living with HIV
** UNAIDS has been providing emergency health/HIV/STIs and daily necessities support packages for people living with HIV and most affected by HIV in the context of COVID-19 Reference: UNAIDS (2017). Methadone. Access from: https://www.unaids.org/en/file/111118 UNODC (2021). UNODC Supports Harm Reduction in Viet Nam Through Take-Home Methadone Doses. Access from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2021/February/unodc-supports-harm-reduction-in-viet-nam-through-take-home-methadone-doses.html
1 of 5
Story
01 December 2021
Safety net for female sex workers at home
This pair of eyes belongs to Hien (not her real name), a 30-something-year-old female sex worker living with her husband and two small children.
The family moved from Kien Giang province to Ho Chi Minh City 8 years ago. Working in a karaoke bar and selling sex, Hien’s income was much higher than her husband who occasionally took some seasonal jobs before the COVID19 pandemic. In order to get more clients, she arrived at the bar in the early morning and worked till late evening every day. So her husband bore the responsibility of taking care of the children at home. In the afternoon, he often drank and hung out with friends at the street sidebars.
As a COVID-19 recurring wave hit Viet Nam in 2021, all the entertainment establishments closed. Hien lost her source of income. Their meager saving was used up. Her husband’s alcoholism got severe. Compounding stress caused by income loss, her husband struck her and her children just as the lockdown started.
“As I did not have money for him to buy alcohol, he shoved, punched, and slapped me.”, Hien shared, “He scolded me and insulted me as a sex worker. I kept silent, as I didn’t want my little kids to know my job.”
Violence escalated as her husband managed to get alcohol to drink, usually in the afternoons. Hien was intimidated and lingered in the lane where her house is located and with neighbors in order to avoid him. However, at night, violent acts continued behind the door.
Domestic abuse spiked during COVID-19. Gender-based and sexual violence most often is perpetrated by someone a survivor knows, and this includes intimate partners. Hien’s story was unveiled by a member of the Viet Nam Network of Self-help Groups Supporting Sex Workers (VNSW) who spotted her black eyes when disseminating the UNAIDS-funded COVID-19 daily necessities emergency package.
Worrying that no one would take care of two small children if she goes back to full-time work later, Hien endured the domestic violence in silence throughout the 4-month lockdown. More importantly, she is not aware of where and how to get help.
“In the pandemic, female sex workers become an easy target during the prolonged stay-at-home time with compound stress from loss of livelihoods. User-friendly and trustworthy services for domestic violence victims should be incorporated in the emergency COVID-19 response and become more easily accessible. The health and social services should be inclusive, remain open and accessible without stigma and judgment.”, said Ms. Do Thuy An My, chairwoman of VNSW.
Many sex workers like Hien are living under the shadow of violence in silence. Self-stigmatization of sex workers impacts their ability to seek help.
Collaborative efforts must develop the safety net for all women and girls. Government plays a pivotal role in guaranteeing all women and girls can access health and social services, accommodation, legal services, and protection from violence. Communities should be fueled with resources to provide timely and user-friendly support services to respond to different forms of gender-based violence. Every effort matters to put an end to gender-based violence.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call <094 140 9119> to report any cases of gender-based violence. All information will be confidential.
Reference
UNAIDS (2020). Six concrete measures to support women and girls in all their diversity in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. Accessed from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/women-girls-covid19_en.pdf
WHO (2002). World report on violence and health
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42495/9241545615_eng.pdf;jsessionid=53B91BBF0185D8675E49A057DC5C45FC?sequence=1
http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42495/9241545615_eng.pdf;jsessionid=53B91BBF0185D8675E49A057DC5C45FC?sequence=1
1 of 5
Story
29 November 2021
Unreachable social protection for sex workers
Hanh (not her real name), a 50-ish female sex worker in Long An province, shares her feeling of facing sexual violence.
A raft of strict lockdowns took place in response to the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections since April 27, 2021, which was considered Viet Nam’s most severe outbreak since the pandemic began. The tightened social distancing rules have profoundly upended the livelihood of street-based sex workers, like Hanh.
Cutting all ties with her family, Hanh inhabits a small 2-room house with three other street-based female sex workers in a suburban area of Tan An city. The monthly rent is 600,000 Vietnamese Dong (VND) per person in the shared room. As an older street-based sex work, she only has 1 to 2 clients per day now and the charge is low, ranging from 120,000 - 200,000VND per client. To make ends meet, every night she also collects scrap items from door to door and sells them to recyclers as individuals or small shops. As COVID-19 raged and mobility on the street was restricted, all her sources of income halted. Her income dropped to zero.
Between July and October in 2021, the Government had provided cash support, trice already, to unemployed people or those who have lost jobs because of COVID-19. However, Hanh and many other sex workers were not able to receive any cash or social support.
COVID-19 outbreaks have exacerbated the hardships, inequalities, and violence faced by sex workers. Many are either not eligible or excluded from social protection services. According to a quick survey conducted by VNSW* in the 15 most heavily impacted Southern Provinces in late October 2021, more than 50% of interviewed sex workers could not access any or all the three social protection packages provided by the government in 2021. “Some of us do not dare to apply for the government relief, as sex work is illegal and not like other informal work such as lottery selling. We do not want to expose to stigma and discrimination”, Hanh said.
The ravages of poverty left the sex workers no choice but to tread a tightrope. They contacted their clients by mobile, took turns to sneak out and sell sex at clients’ places at night, and even bore the risk of being caught by local security forces for violating lockdown rules.
Once, a male client initially invited Hanh secretly to his place to provide one-on-one sex service. She was fetched by his motorcycle from her house. Upon her arrival, she found that there were two other men in the room. Considering the potential increase in earnings, reluctantly, Hanh agreed to have sex with three of them one by one even though she only got one condom and lubricant with her. Only one of the clients used the condom, the other two did not use any protective measures.
Yet, regardless of Hanh’s willingness, three of them surged up like ravenous wolves. Suffering from their brutal and violent act, Hanh was hurt in severe pain and extremely traumatized.
Afterward, those men backed out from the initial agreement and pressed her to charge 200,000 VND for the three of them, which is barely equal to her standard service charge for one client. Her simmering anger boiled over and she argued with them.
“Slap!” One of them slapped her in the face and threatened her to cut down the fee or they would not drive her home implying – she needed to bear the risk of being caught by local forces for violating lockdown restrictions. Considering all the risks, she aggrievedly compromised. Hanh returned home with pain, anger, and trauma.
Due to the illegal nature of sex work in Viet Nam, she did not dare to report the case to the authorities. The only support she managed to get was empathy and counseling from her peers in the sex workers self-help group.
“Social protection is there, and it’s just-out-of-reach for somebody like me. Living on the fringe of the society, I and other sex workers do not have any protection.”, shared by Hanh in despair, “I had no choice but was forced to put my health, safety, and security at increased risk to make a living, to survive.”
Sex workers are entitled to safe working conditions, access to social protection, and autonomy over one’s own body and sexuality, without discrimination (UNAIDS, 2021). Exclusion from financial support measures denies sex workers the essential health and social safety nets being put in place for other workers. In addition, the lack of access to emergency social protection measures diminished their ability to leave or influence the abusive workplace.
UNAIDS calls on multisectoral stakeholders to take immediate, critical action, grounded in human rights principles, to protect the health and rights of sex workers. Measures should
include, among others, access to national social protection schemes for sex workers,
including income support schemes. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call <094 140 9119> to report any cases of gender-based violence. All information will be confidential. *The Viet Nam Network of Self-Help Groups Supporting Sex Workers (VNSW): Viet Nam Network of Self-Help Groups Supporting Sex Workers Reference: UNAIDS (2020). Press Statement - Sex workers must not be left behind in the response to COVID-19. Access from https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2020/april/20200408_sex-workers-covid-19 UNAIDS (2021). HIV and Sex Work - Human Rights Factsheet series. Access from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/05-hiv-human-rights-factsheet-sex-work_en.pdf WHO (2004). Violence Against Women and HIV/AIDS: Critical Intersections. Access from https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/violence/hiv/en/
include, among others, access to national social protection schemes for sex workers,
including income support schemes. If you or someone you know needs help, you can call <094 140 9119> to report any cases of gender-based violence. All information will be confidential. *The Viet Nam Network of Self-Help Groups Supporting Sex Workers (VNSW): Viet Nam Network of Self-Help Groups Supporting Sex Workers Reference: UNAIDS (2020). Press Statement - Sex workers must not be left behind in the response to COVID-19. Access from https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2020/april/20200408_sex-workers-covid-19 UNAIDS (2021). HIV and Sex Work - Human Rights Factsheet series. Access from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/05-hiv-human-rights-factsheet-sex-work_en.pdf WHO (2004). Violence Against Women and HIV/AIDS: Critical Intersections. Access from https://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/violence/hiv/en/
1 of 5
Story
29 November 2021
Harm reduction needed for people who use stimulant drugs
Phong (not his real name) moved from Tien Giang province to Long An province for pursuing his own life. Being uninterested in studying, he dropped out of junior high school and started working at street-side food stalls at the age of 14. Gradually, he realized himself sexually attracted to males. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, he started selling sex and using social media to accept clients’ appointments days and nights.
Once, he got a one-on-one sex service appointment and went to the venue suggested by the client. Unexpectedly, four other friends of this young client showed up in the room. In the first place, he tried to leave but they pulled his collar fiercely and threatened to beat him. The group used stimulant drugs to reduce inhibitions and intensify pleasure. Having zero prior knowledge of substance use for sex, Phong was forced to take the drugs by smoking under their coercion.
Chemsex (commonly known as high-fun) is intentional sex under the influence of various psychoactive drugs. It is on the rise among gay men and other men who have sex with men, which may involve unprotected sexual activity with multiple partners. For these reasons, it is associated with increased rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and hepatitis.
Sex workers, whether male, female or transgender, may be coerced into consuming stimulant drugs with their clients, increasing the risk of unprotected sex and sexual violence.
Under the effect of the stimulant drugs, Phong could barely know whether they wore condoms properly or not before sex. Phong took the receptive position (“bottom”) during the unprotected anal sex. Stimulant drug use facilitated longer penetration and more intense acts. The prolonged and intense sexual session time causes him tremendous pain and bleeding.
“Having fun is not problematic but having fun regardless of the harm and risk is something I want to avoid. People who want to have sex with the use of stimulant drugs should have information about its risks.” said Phong, “Honestly, I was so scared, I did not know how to protect myself under such circumstances.”
Entangled by the confusion and worries about the side effect of stimulant drugs, Phong mustered courage and sought help from the local sex worker self-help group for advice. His anus tore and bled. He felt dizzy, headache, and exhausted after smoking methamphetamine (also known as “crystal meth”). After a 10-day medical treatment and rest, he finally recovers and returns to normal life.
Since then, the trauma kept him away from alcohol and drug use when having sex. Phong has taken measures to protect himself, such as selecting the venue for having sex, instead of going to the place suggested by clients. He also took PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) regularly to protect himself from HIV infection, even when his clients reject to use condoms in the future.
Inconsistent condom use by people who use stimulant drugs has been identified as a prime means of contracting STIs, including HIV, mainly as a result of the concurrent use of stimulant drugs with frequent sexual activity of long duration with multiple partners or in groups. In addition, sharing of substance-using equipment such as needles and syringes, pipes, straws can elevate risks of transmitting HIV, Hepatitis A, and C, COVID-19, and tuberculosis.
The safety awareness of chemsex among men who have sex with men who engage in chemsex remains low. People who use stimulant drugs for sex need access to health protection commodities as well as sexual and reproductive health information and services, including STI screening, diagnosis and treatment, family planning, and screening and treatment for the cervix and/ or rectum. The notions of self-care and care for others are important in avoiding unprotected sex and violence during chemsex.
“Shame, stigma, and punitive attitude towards drug use hinder people from seeking harm reduction information and professional help. Health care services and information with non-judgemental attitude before and after a chemsex event are key to reducing the risk of health-related implications of chemsex,” said Dr. Maria Elena Filio Borromeo, UNAIDS Country Director, UNAIDS in Viet Nam Country Director.
If you would like to know HIV harm reduction checklists for people who use stimulant drugs, please refer to the Technical Guide by UNODC (P.55-58).
If you would like to know more about HIV harm reduction checklists for people who use stimulant drugs, you may visit the “HighFun Safe” Facebook page for more information in Vietnamese.
Reference:
European Chemsex Forum (2018). A call to action for effective responses to problematic chemsex. Position paper from organizers and participants of the 2nd European Chemsex Forum, Berlin, 22–24 March 2018. Access from https://www.ilga-europe.org/sites/default/files/Final%20position%20paper.pdf
UNAIDS (2019). Health, rights, and drugs harm reduction, decriminalization and zero Discrimination for people who use drugs. Accessed from https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/JC2954_UNAIDS_drugs_report_2019_en.pdf
UNAIDS, UNODC & WHO (2019). HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and Support for People Who Use Stimulant Drugs - TECHNICAL GUIDE. Access from
https://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/publications/People_who_use_drugs/19-04568_HIV_Prevention_Guide_ebook.pdf
https://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/publications/People_who_use_drugs/19-04568_HIV_Prevention_Guide_ebook.pdf
1 of 5
Press Release
17 May 2022
The UN in Viet Nam promotes the health, dignity and rights of LGBTI persons this International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia And Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 2022
It is now well-established that gender incongruence is not a pathological condition. On this day thirty-two years ago, the World Health Assembly removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders when it approved the tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). More recently, in 2019, the ICD-11 has reflected that trans-related and gender diverse identities are not conditions of mental and behavioural disorders, and that classifying them as such can perpetuate stigma. Therefore, any efforts aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, such as ‘conversion therapies’, have no medical justification and are a severe threat to the health and rights of affected persons.
Today, we recommit our efforts to ensure LGBTI persons’ right to self-determination and access to equitable and quality healthcare, including sexual and gender-affirming healthcare that supports all individuals’ sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, we stand in solidarity with the LGBTI community in Viet Nam, and express support for local community-based organisations working to change social norms and strengthen institutional frameworks to promote more inclusive communities that respect and promote LGBTI persons’ rights, including access to services, quality education and employment.
In Viet Nam, there has been commitment in the past years to strengthen the rights of LGBTI persons. It is therefore critical to now move from commitment to action, including the adoption of the Gender Affirmation Law, further strengthening of the Marriage and Family Law, and the amendment of Gender Equality Law. These actions should be in line with international human rights standards and treaties that Viet Nam has ratified, including the ICCPR, ICESCR and CEDAW, and developed in close consultation with the LGBTI community. Meaningful collaboration and collective action by the Government, civil society, private sector and development partners are key to putting an end to the discrimination, violence and stigma against LGBTI persons.
With the central principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind, the UN is committed to supporting Viet Nam to build an inclusive society where every person is truly safe, free and equal. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2022-2026 will see continued partnerships to support Viet Nam in these efforts. Together, we can promote and protect the health, dignity and rights of all LGBTI persons.
1 of 5
Press Release
30 March 2022
Nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended—a global crisis, says new UNFPA report
[NEW YORK, 30 March 2022] — Nearly half of all pregnancies, totaling 121 million each year throughout the world, are unintended. For the women and girls affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice—whether or not to become pregnant—is no choice at all, explains the State of World Population 2022 report, released today by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
The groundbreaking report, “Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy,” warns that this human rights crisis has profound consequences for societies, women and girls and global health. Over 60 per cent of unintended pregnancies end in abortion and an estimated 45 per cent of all abortions are unsafe, causing 5 – 13 per cent of all maternal deaths, thereby having a major impact on the world’s ability to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
The war in Ukraine and other conflicts and crises around the world are expected to drive an increase in unintended pregnancies, as access to contraception is disrupted and sexual violence increases.
“This report is a wakeup call. The staggering number of unintended pregnancies represents a global failure to uphold women and girls’ basic human rights,” says UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “For the women affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice—whether or not to become pregnant—is no choice at all. By putting the power to make this most fundamental decision squarely in the hands of women and girls, societies can ensure that motherhood is an aspiration and not an inevitability.”
Key findings: Gender inequality and stalled development drive high rates of unintended pregnancies
Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception, and where data is available, nearly a quarter of all women are not able to say no to sex. A range of other key factors also contribute to unintended pregnancies, including:
Lack of sexual and reproductive health care and information
Contraceptive options that don't suit women's bodies or circumstances
Harmful norms and stigma surrounding women controlling their own fertility and bodies
Sexual violence and reproductive coercion
Judgmental attitudes or shaming in health services
Poverty and stalled economic development
Gender inequality
All of these factors reflect the pressure societies place on women and girls to become mothers. An unintended pregnancy is not necessarily a personal failure and may be due to the lack of autonomy society allows or the value placed on women’s lives.
When crisis hits, unintended pregnancies climb
Crisis and conflict rob women of their agency at all levels, drastically increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy at the moment it is most threatening. Women often lose access to contraceptives and sexual violence increases, with some studies showing that over 20 per cent of refugee women and girls will face sexual violence. In Afghanistan, war and disruptions to health systems are expected to lead to an estimated 4.8 million unintended pregnancies by 2025, which will jeopardize the country’s overall stability, peace, and recovery.
“If you had 15 minutes to leave your house, what would you take? Would you grab your passport? Food? Would you remember your contraception?” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “In the days, weeks and months after a crisis starts, sexual and reproductive health and protection services save lives, shield women and girls from harm and prevent unintended pregnancies. They are as vital as food, water and shelter.”
The responsibility to act
The report shows how easily the most fundamental rights of women and girls are pushed to the backburner in times of peace and in the midst of war. It calls on decision-makers and health systems to prioritize the prevention of unintended pregnancies by improving the accessibility, acceptability, quality and variety of contraception and greatly expanding quality sexual and reproductive health care and information.
It urges policy makers, community leaders and all individuals to empower women and girls to make affirmative decisions about sex, contraception and motherhood, and to foster societies that recognize the full worth of women and girls. If they do, women and girls will be able to contribute fully to society, and will have the tools, information and power to make this fundamental choice—to have children, or not—for themselves.
Notes to editors
The State of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development.
This report’s analysis builds upon new data from our partner, the Guttmacher Institute, released on 24 March.
As the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA helps people obtain contraception and life-saving reproductive health services and information and empowers women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and lives.
You can access the UNFPA State of World Population report, Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy here: www.unfpa.org/swp2022 For more information about UNFPA, please visit: www.unfpa.org For interviews or more information, please contact: Eddie Wright: ewright@unfpa.org, +1 917 831 2074 Zina Alam: zialam@unfpa.org, +1 929 378 9431
You can access the UNFPA State of World Population report, Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy here: www.unfpa.org/swp2022 For more information about UNFPA, please visit: www.unfpa.org For interviews or more information, please contact: Eddie Wright: ewright@unfpa.org, +1 917 831 2074 Zina Alam: zialam@unfpa.org, +1 929 378 9431
1 of 5
Press Release
07 February 2022
UNFPA Executive Board approves its new Country Programme for Viet Nam 2022 – 2026, leaving no one behind for the achievement of SDGs by 2030
Launched the Country Programme for Viet Nam in Hanoi today, UNFPA commits to supporting the implementation of the National Plan of Action for the Viet Nam’s Sustainable Goals for the Decade of Action and the new Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2026) under the Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021-2030) framework, both of which place focused attention to population dynamics and population issues.
The 10th Country Programme was developed, following extensive consultations with the Vietnamese government and other national and international stakeholders. It is in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Viet Nam to fulfil the transformative promise of “Leaving no one behind” by directly contributing to two areas: Inclusive Social Development, and Governance and Access to Justice, thus reducing inequalities and vulnerabilities.
Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Viet Nam, highlighted the significance of the 10th cycle of UNFPA’s work in Viet Nam. She emphasised: “Building on the successes of the previous Country Programmes, UNFPA’s interventions and initiatives in the next 5 years will aim at achieving the transformative results of the UNFPA’s corporate Strategic Plan, towards Viet Nam with Zero preventable maternal death, Zero unmet need for family planning, and Zero gender-based violence and other harmful practices against women and girls. Rights-based, gender-sensitive, and people-centred approaches will be used, and interventions in relation to humanitarian preparedness and response in light of climate change will be mainstreamed across all programmatic intervention areas.”
As prioritised by the Vietnamese Government, much attention of UNFPA Country Programme 2022 - 2026 will be placed to digital transformation and data revolution by effectively using Information Communication Technology particularly to reach those furthest behind.
The new UNFPA Country Programme has been designed to achieve the following results:
Adolescents and Youth: The enabling environment is created to support comprehensive youth development and participation, including in disaster management policies and programmes and to advance the ICPD Programme of Action.
Population Aging and Social Protection: A coherent and inclusive social protection system is enhanced, applying life-cycle and gender-transformative approach for ageing and meeting the individual needs of the most vulnerable groups.
Equitable Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Vulnerable groups including ethnic minorities, adolescents and youth, PWDs, and migrant workers have increased equitable access to comprehensive and gender-transformative SRHR information and services, including in the humanitarian-development nexus.
Data and Evidence for Policy and Programma Making: Evidence-based and rights-based policy and programme making, budgeting and monitoring are strengthened based on data production, analysis and use.
Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices: Harmful attitudes that accept violence and perpetuate gender inequality especially those of young people are transformed to reduce GBV and other harmful practices including in the humanitarian-development nexus.
Multi-sectoral Response to Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices: The multisectoral response is strengthened to address gender-based violence and other harmful practices at national and subnational levels.
To achieve these results, UNFPA will partner with the Government, national institutions and CSOs fully in line with the principles of national ownership and mutual accountability. UNFPA and the Government of Viet Nam, through the Ministry of Planning and Investment as the Government coordinating agency, will be jointly accountable for the management of the programme, and will plan, monitor and evaluate programme implementation using the results-based management approach.
UNFPA will also continue to strengthen its technical and financial base in partnership with development partners such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, Norway among others, as well as non- traditional partners and the private sector entities including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Vital Strategies, and MSD.
In terms of UNFPA’s humanitarian support to Vietnam, UNFPA will focus on the provision of integrated sexual and reproductive health care, the prevention and response to gender-based violence, and support for the elderly population groups. The rights and choices of women and girls, young people and older persons affected by humanitarian crises will be prioritized, leaving no one behind.
Note to editors:
Viet Nam stands at a lower middle-income country but is one of the fastest growing economies.
However, the country faces the following population issues:
The demographic shifts:
Vietnam recorded the highest number and proportion of young people in its history, creating the potential for a demographic dividend; yet the population is ageing rapidly – will become an “aged” population within 20 years.
Disparities in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR):
The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has declined over the decades, but it is 2-3 times higher among ethnic minorities. Likewise, unmet need for family planning is higher among ethnic minorities and migrants. Young people lack adequate and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and services. The adolescent birth rate is estimated at 11 per 1,000, and cervical cancer affects SRHR status for women in Viet Nam.
Inadequate social protection system for older persons
The existing national social protection system has not been able to accommodate the needs of the older persons: 48% of older people are not covered by national social protection schemes; 80% of people with disabilities (PWDs) are old people aged 60 and above.
Gender-based violence and other harmful practices
According to the UNFPA-supported 2019 National Study on Violence against Women, nearly 2 in 3 women still experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and 40.3% of women experience physical and/or sexual violence since age of 15. Gender-based violence is costing Viet Nam 1.81% of GDP. The Sex ratio at birth is the third highest in Asia, meaning more boys than girls are born in the country, indicating a significant gender imbalance.
For more information about the 10th Country Programme for Viet Nam is here
1 of 5
Press Release
28 November 2021
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON WORLD AIDS DAY 2021
On this World AIDS Day, we focus attention on the inequalities that drive HIV and AIDS.
It is still possible to end the epidemic by 2030. But that will require stepped up action and greater solidarity.
The United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a bold new plan to accelerate progress, including new targets for 2025.
To beat AIDS – and build resilience against the pandemics of tomorrow – we need collective action.
That includes harnessing the leadership of communities to drive change, combatting stigma, and eliminating discriminatory and punitive laws, policies and practices.
We must also dismantle financial barriers to health care and increase investment in vital public services to achieve Universal Health Coverage for everyone, everywhere.
This will ensure equal access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, including COVID-19 vaccinations and services.
Together, let us recommit to end inequalities and end AIDS.
1 of 5
Press Release
04 November 2021
The UN in Viet Nam Joins its Partners to Promote Safer Schools for LGBTIQ+ People
The 2021 UN Free & Equal campaign’s emphasis on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools, with a strong focus on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), results from consultation with a wide range of Vietnamese partners working on LGBTIQ+ rights. These issues are considered vital in ensuring the acceptance and rights of LGBTIQ+ people in all their diversity, as well as promoting safe sexual practices among youth. In this context, the 2021 UN Free & Equal campaign embraces current and future teachers as important agents of change. The campaign makes efforts to engage with hundreds of trainee teachers to enhance their understanding of SOGIESC concepts and encourage them to integrate these topics into their teaching, which will ultimately result in safer learning environments for all students.
In his opening remarks at the event, Vũ Trần Dũng, Founder and Network Senior Advisor of VYKAP, observed that “friends, teachers, and families make up a triangle of forces with direct and profound influence on adolescents and young students. However, the reality in many education institutions is that sexuality education for secondary and university students is still under-prioritized and follows restricted standards.” This results in knowledge gaps and misconceptions about SOGIESC, and young people not having the knowledge or being unable to access adequate sexual health services, including services for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections.
A pre-campaign survey of 100 trainee teachers aged 19 to 28 years shows that 85% of those surveyed agree with this vision, which also strongly aligns with the national agenda to incorporate CSE into formal education through teacher training. Despite this, 77% of trainee teachers expressed that they do not feel sufficiently informed on SOGIESC and issues affecting the LGBTIQ+ community to effectively impart knowledge to their future students. 98% of those surveyed indicated that their knowledge on these topics came from the internet, media, friends or direct interactions with the LGBTIQ+ community, with only 2% stating that they were taught about these issues at school.
Professor Dr. Nguyễn Quý Thanh, Rector of the VNU-UEd – one of the largest teacher training institutions in Viet Nam – emphasized the role of future teachers in creating long-term impactful change towards greater acceptance of diversity. According to Dr. Thanh, “each teacher in training is also an individual, a future global citizen, and a part of the inherent diversity of life. When equipped with a deeper, multidimensional and comprehensive view, these future teachers will contribute to promoting safer school environments, where all differences and diversities are respected. After today’s event, all of us, as educators, students and members of the community, will have a greater understanding of the importance of acceptance and respect, so that we can become proud of our role as teachers, those who have been, and will continue to be, participating in the building of safer schools for all.”
Mr. Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative in Viet Nam, further reinforced the vital role of partnership in education in creating safer schools to support LGBTIQ+ communities.
“The event today is symbolic of a strengthened partnership between the VNU-UEd, VYKAP and the UN in Viet Nam, united in a common belief that supporting a safer education environment for LGBTIQ+ students and all their classmates is one of the most important contributions to the development of education in the nation. Together, we join hands for a more resilient and inclusive Viet Nam, where no one is left behind.” – Mr. Christian Manhart said.
Background Information on the 2021 UN Free & Equal Campaign in Viet Nam
UN Free & Equal is an initiative launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2013 as a global UN public information campaign aimed at promoting equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTIQ+ people. In addition to global campaigns and events organized by the United Nations, targeted national events have been organized in almost 30 countries with the support of the UN and non-UN partners at the country level. This is the third year that a UN Free & Equal campaign has been organized in Viet Nam. UNESCO has led the coordination of the campaign, with support from UNAIDS and UNDP, working in partnership with the University of Education, Viet Nam National University (VNU-UEd) and Viet Nam Network of Young Key Affected Population (VYKAP).
As part of the 2021 UNFE campaign in Viet Nam, the social media campaign #StandwithPRIDE #viTUHAO_HANHDONGnao is spreading knowledge on SOGIESC, the status of school-related gender-based violence, and real stories from insiders. Set to end on 10 November, the social media campaign has to date released 11 out of 13 posts, currently averaging 20,000 organic reach per post on the United Nations in Viet Nam Facebook page. Contents showcasing statistics about gender-based violence experienced by LGBTIQ+ students in school and demonstrating the imaginings of what a safer school environment means to LGBTIQ+ students’ continue to draw interest, gathering 56,000 and 33,000 organic reach respectively.
The hybrid webinar “For Safer Schools for LGBTIQ+ People”, which opened a fruitful dialogue about CSE and SOGIESC in schools, included a panel discussion with Associate Professor Dr. Phạm Mạnh Hà, Director of the Center for Training and Cooperation (VNU-UEd), Associate Professor Dr. Trần Thành Nam, Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences (VNU-UEd), Vũ Trần Dũng, Founder and Senior Network Advisor of VYKAP, and other members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
The livestream of the hybrid webinar event can be viewed on its Facebook event page.
For more information, see the United Nations in Viet Nam website, or contact:
Ms. Hoang Huyen
Communications Officer
UNESCO Office in Viet Nam
Email: th.hoang@unesco.org
Communications Officer
UNESCO Office in Viet Nam
Email: th.hoang@unesco.org
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
09 March 2022
Resources
19 November 2021
1 / 11