United Nations 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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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/

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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.

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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

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Press Release

26 October 2021

New report uncovers Viet Nam’s significant progress and barriers to gender equality and puts forth a robust agenda for the Nation to shift gears

This report is the first-of-its-kind in Viet Nam. It takes a broader lens on gender equality to include discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation, and to highlight data relevant to intersectional identity – such as ethnicity, disability and age, etc. Opening the launching event of the report, Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women in Viet Nam, said “This report’s analysis underlines that gender equality is intrinsic to the very quality, durability, and advances made to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development. Therefore, unless progress on gender equality is significantly accelerated, the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved. This is an urgent call for action, and the report recommends the directions to follow.” Conducted over the course of a year, the Viet Nam Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP) represents the collective knowledge, advice, and dedication of many agencies and individuals, combining national and international expertise. This multi-agency effort has identified gender issues and disparities in every sector under examination: governance, labor, agriculture, business, transport and connectivity, urban development, family life, social protection, migration and climate change. Speaking at the launch, Australia’s Ambassador to Viet Nam Robyn Mudie said “we have invested in this data collection because of a belief in the power of evidence – to stimulate debate, and drive policy, services and opportunities. For Australia, the 16 Key Recommendations describe where we should focus our gender equality partnership with the Government of Viet Nam, and where we can support groups who face complex, intersecting disadvantage.” Mr. Andrew Jeffries, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Viet Nam commented on how the CGEP will contribute to promoting gender equality in Viet Nam when he said: “Accelerating progress in gender equality is one of the ADB’s operational priorities under ADB’s region-wide Strategy 2030, and we are very pleased to see that the report in particular covered gender analysis in our operational areas in Viet Nam, such as the environment, and urban and rural development. ADB works to finance infrastructure and services so they are more accessible, affordable and safer for users and beneficiaries, including for Vietnamese women and girls. We will continue to work with the Government and development partners to promote gender equality in Viet Nam.” This report was finalized as Viet Nam was responding to its fourth wave of COVID-19 and, unfortunately, sex-disaggregation of the official case numbers are not available. However, unlike previous global public health and financial crises, COVID-19 has been singularly detrimental for women and girls, and has exposed gendered fault lines in the economy and social structures. “The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionally hit women in Viet Nam and exacerbated the persistent gender gaps in the labour market. For instance, this report shows that women’s labour force participation rate fell more than men’s, widening the gender gap slightly to 10.8 per cent,” said Ms. Nguyen Hong Ha, Officer-in-Charge of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Viet Nam. She went on to say, “As Viet Nam is now focusing on building forward the economy and society from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an opportunity to build forward fairer by placing gender equality at the core of the recovery efforts and putting in place gender-responsive strategies.” The report provides a wide range of recommendations for change, highlighting three key areas of action: (1) Strengthening the implementation of existing gender equality commitments; (2) Addressing the underlying barriers to gender equality; and (3) Driving gender equality progress in the coming decade. Viet Nam Country Gender Equality Profile aims to serve as a primary source of evidence to drive the prioritization of financing, programming and advocacy to advance gains and overcome bottlenecks to gender equality in Viet Nam. It is intended that the CGEP will also contribute to Viet Nam’s monitoring of gender equality-related targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The report and its executive summary are available at THIS LINK.

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Press Release

19 October 2021

IOM Viet Nam Launches Qualitative Research on Risks of Exploitation Encountered by Vietnamese Migrant Workers

Labour migration is an integral part of Viet Nam’s overall development, reflected in growing remittance flows, alleviation of domestic labour market pressure, and skills transfer. However, gaps in regulatory oversight of recruitment agencies, as well as limited administrative and criminal law enforcement, allow unethical recruitment practices to continue in Viet Nam, putting migrant workers at risk of forced labour and human trafficking. The report calls for a comprehensive understanding of complex migrant worker journeys to most popular destinations – Japan, Taiwan Province of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea – examining risk and vulnerabilities at various stages of labour migration process. It provides recommendations to support the development of strategies by state policymakers and stakeholders to further strengthen protection of Vietnamese migrant workers from exploitative recruitment and employment practices. The study, funded by the IOM Development Fund and Global Fund to End Modern Slavery, is based on qualitative survey methods consisting of in-depth interviews with migrant workers, focus group discussions, family case studies and key informant interviews. It has been delivered by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in collaboration with the Institute for Family and Gender Studies. The research is part of the wider effort of IOM to support progress towards the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and realization of the migration-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report is currently available in English and Vietnamese.  For more information about the research, please contact Nguyen Thu Huong at thuongnguyen@iom.int For media inquiries, please contact Nguyen Thi Hong Yen at thihnguyen@iom.int

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Press Release

30 September 2021

Equipment donation boosts services for survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence during Viet Nam’s fourth wave of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe health and socio-economic impacts resulting in increased incidences of human trafficking and violence against women and children. Viet Nam has seen numbers of those affected rise since the nation’s fourth wave started in April and rights groups have warned that despite Viet Nam’s closed borders throughout the pandemic, traffickers and smugglers have found new ways to continue illicit activities. To counter these issues, UNODC and UN Women have worked closely with the Ministry of Public Security and in August 2021 delivered a training to 16 law enforcement personnel to increase their capacity to handle cases of trafficking through a gender and victim-centered perspective. In addition, UN Women has been supporting the Centre for Women and Development which runs three shelters called Peace House (Ngôi nhà Bình yên) and a helpline for women and children who have experienced violence or trafficking. In a ceremony on September 30, UN Women Representative in Viet Nam, Elisa Fernandez Saenz, handed over equipment worth VND 483 million (USD 21,200) to the organization. The donation aims to help Peace House improve the accessibility of their helplines, furnish the shelters, and provide a range of other support services. It was funded through the UN Women-UNODC joint initiative aiming at advocating for a greater participation of women in ASEAN law enforcement entities and mainstreaming gender into criminal investigations, and supported by the Government of Canada. The initiative on providing material support to Peace House builds on recommendations from the research report Women in Law Enforcement in the ASEAN Region published by UN Women, UNODC and INTERPOL in 2020. The recommendations highlight the importance of gender-sensitive facilities that accommodate the specific needs of women and children. This includes ensuring access to separate facilities for women for changing, sleeping and sanitation, but also for breastfeeding and other childcare needs. Fernandez Saenz stressed how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing limitations on service delivery for women and girls. “Support to upgrade these services is necessary, not only in the context of COVID-19 but in the long term, to ensure the dignity, survival and social integration of women who are survivors of violence and human trafficking,” she said. The donations consisted of essential supplies such as mattresses, blankets, air-conditioners and kitchenware, to help ensure safe, functional and comfortable temporary homes for the women and girls as survivors of trafficking and violence staying with the Peace House shelters. The donations also aim to improve the compatibility of equipment of the call center services, which is exceptionally important to address cross-border human trafficking. Duong Ngoc Linh, Director of the Center for Women and Development, the agency in charge of Peace House Shelters, thanked UN Women for the efforts. “The equipment given today is a meaningful gift, which motivates all employees who are always committed to the peace of women and children.” Three shelters and the Peace House counseling rooms are all run by the Center for Women and Development under the Viet Nam Women's Union. After 19 years of operation in Ha Noi and four years in Can Tho, their helpline has counseled on 8,063 cases, amounting to 9,850 survivors over the course of 12,961 calls. In addition, 3,424 women and child survivors of gender-based violence from 50 provinces and 17 ethnic minority regions were supported in-person at the Peace House Shelters. Peace House Shelters have coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and local authorities in crisis counseling and emergency intervention, intervening in nearly 30 cases, an increase of 40 percent compared to the same period last year, and are therefore important service providers in ensuring the safety and security of women and girls. If you or someone you know is currently experiencing or is a survivor of violence or may be at risk of trafficking, please call 1900 96 9680 for support.

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