Access to Criminal Justice by Women Subjected to Violence in Viet Nam

This study provides new insights into how women perceive the justice system in Viet Nam and how the victims are treated. When the very actors tasked with facilitating access to criminal justice instead "counsel" and pressure victims to settle cases out of court, or treat them without regard for their dignity or privacy, it should come as no surprise that many women eventually give up on a system which is often unresponsive to their needs. When the criminal justice system fails to fulfill women's human rights, this contributes to perpetuating cultures of reconciliation, cultures of invisibility, and cultures of impunity. This impunity – an exemption from punishment and accountability – fuels violence against women, reducing the impact of advocacy and hard-fought policy achievements.