Launching of the National Action Month on Gender Equality and Gender-based violence Prevention and Response 2023

H.E. Mr. Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

Representatives from line ministries and provinces

Ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic community

Representatives from NGOs, other development partners and community-based organizations

Leaders and staff of VietnamAirlines

Representatives from the private sector

Media Representatives

Distinguished guests

It is an honor to join His Excellency Minister to welcome you at this launching ceremony of the 2023 National Action Month on Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response. This is the 8th year of a joint UN  - Government of Viet Nam collaboration for National Action Month.

The global 16 Days of Activism which runs from 25 November,  the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day are a reminder that violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights.

This year, the UNiTE campaign theme is Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls. The theme emphasizes the importance of financing the prevention of violence.

Globally, it is estimated that implementing prevention and treatment programmes to end gender based violence in 132 target low and middle income countries by 2030 will cost 42 billion USD.

According to the National Study on Violence Against Women in Viet Nam 20191, violence against women is costing Vietnam an estimated 1.8 per cent of GDP per year (2018). The costs associated with living with violence, such as health care, legal services, and lost income, as well as productivity loss as a result of reduced work performance and absenteeism – account for close to 2% of the country’s GDP. 

The study also estimated that the earnings of women who experience violence may be 35 per cent less than those not abused.

This is an extraordinarily high price to pay.

In response, Viet Nam has adopted a comprehensive Programme on Elimination of Violence against Women and Children (EVAWC) (2021-2025) with the cooperation of the Australian government and the UN. Through this programme, which builds on previous investments by other partners such as Japan and Korea, the UN has supported the roll out of evidence-based  strategies to reduce the incidence of violence against women and children within the home and in public spaces.

A comprehensive framework on prevention of violence against women called RESPECT and on prevention of children, called INSPIRE - Globally, these evidence-based strategies have demonstrated positive results which provides member states, development partners and the private sector strong options for investments.

And here in Viet Nam, these partnerships have established the first few One-Stop Service Centres putting the survivor at the centre of a network of support. Investments in these services are crucial and I know through cooperation with several UN agencies, more provinces are adopting these centres.

We know that COVID-19, climate change induced disasters and conflicts all increase the rates of gender based violence and exacerbate economic hardship for households. These are threats that continue to loom over us. To mitigate the impacts of such crises, investing in prevention is not only better for women, children and households, but it is better for the economy.

Excellency Minister, it is worth highlighting that sustainable financing of:

•  non-state organizations that work for women’s empowerment,  and actions that engage communities to transform social norms and address unequal gender power relations; AND
• high quality essential public services for survivors of violence that are available, accessible and safe

will help sustain the progress we are making in eliminating violence against women and children.

Sadly, around the world, less than 0.002 percent of global Official Development Assistance is directed to gender-based violence prevention, and that funding is often poor quality, short-term and sporadic. Few national governments have transformative GBV prevention policies, nor are budgets well-aligned with prevention strategies and interventions.[1] More partnerships are required to raise the resources to enable a whole of society response.

I therefore commend Vietnam Airlines for taking the lead in investing resources to join the collective efforts to promote gender equality. Through these investments, Vietnam Airlines is taking big strides to make the aviation sector an equal and friendly working environment for women. Firstly, Vietnam Airlines’ decision to sign up to the UN Women Global Women’s Empowerment Principles demonstrates its commitment to ensure that company policies and practice will not condone violence against women and children, sexual exploitation or sexual harassment.

Secondly, Vietnam Airlines’ commitment today is a testament to ‘Invest in prevention,’ as the company takes measures to promote women-owned businesses as one critical pathway to women’s economic empowerment and the prevention of gender based violence. 

This action month, I call upon private sector companies to follow this lead and invest more in the prevention of violence against women and children.

As we embark on yet another season of festivities during this National Action Month, I want to inspire you with 5 actions you too can invest in at an individual level,

• First, call out violence when you see it!
• Second, lead by example: show respect to all genders, especially women, children, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with disability,  groups who are more at risk of violence.
• Third, share domestic and care work equally in your household.
• Fourth, advocate for and invest more budgets and human resources in prevention efforts within your department, company, or community;
• Fifth, join the #NoExcuse campaign calling for urgent investments to prevent violence against women and girls.

Let’s UNITE – for a better and equal planet for our children and the next generations to come. 

I wish you all a very successful and meaningful National Action Month this year!

Thank you! Xin cam on!

[1] https://preventgbv.org/shared-advocacy-agenda/