New project signed aims to support Viet Nam on prevention and response to gender-based violence and addressing sex work-related issues

Gender equality plays an important role in Viet Nam's socio-economic development. GBV prevention and control is one of the country's leading priorities with regard to the issue of gender equality at national, provincial and grass-root levels. Over the past years, Viet Nam has made many efforts in preventing gender-based violence and domestic violence.

However, there are still many challenging issues for gender discrimination and gender based violence and more must be done to further improve the effectiveness of this important work in the coming years. According to the national survey on violence against women in Viet Nam conducted by the General Statistics Office (GSO) in 2010, 58 per cent of ever-married women aged from 18-60 have experienced violence at least once in their lives. The study confirmed that violence against women in Vietnam is a serious problem. However, this is only the figure on violence against women within family settings. Of huge concern is that up to 87 per cent of women suffering from violence do not seek any support from public service providers.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Ms. Dao Hong Lan, Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Socials Affairs emphasized that "With joint efforts of all sectors at all levels, Viet Nam has achieved remarkable achievements in gender equality. However, there are still many difficulties and challenges requiring more effective solutions and interventions. There is still a gap between policy and practice. Women and girls are still survivors of violence; Support services for survivors are not yet standardized; GBV data is out-of-date; Sex work related issues are still complicated. With technical and financial support from UNFPA, we hope that this project will contribute to narrowing the gender disparities and contribute to effective implementation of programmes, policies and strategies on gender equality, GBV/ DV, sex work related issues and the Sustainable Development Goals in Viet Nam".

With a total budget of USD4.1 million for five years from 2017 to 2021, of which USD3.7 million is funded by UNFPA, the project focuses on the following objectives:

• To support the generation of evidence for developing and/or improving the effectiveness of implementation of the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, policies and programmes on DV/GBV prevention and response;
• To improve coordination capacity and accountability of government agencies;
• To raise awareness and support behaviour change in policy makers and the community, especially men, on GBV/DV prevention and response;
• To support the development and improvement of evidence and human rights based laws, policies and programmes addressing sex work related issues.

The project's outcomes will help Viet Nam address challenges on gender equality, GBV/DV towards the country's sustainable development. The project is co-implemented by MOLISA, MOCST and VFU, and with technical assistance from UNFPA in Viet Nam. This collaboration is part of the One Strategic Plan to be jointly delivered by the Government of Viet Nam and United Nations for the period 2017-2021.

"I very much appreciate the cooperation and commitment of MOLISA, MOCST and VFU in carrying out activities to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls over the past years. I hope this project, based on evidence and outcomes achieved from the previous phase, will continue addressing the challenges ahead in the prevention and response to gender-based violence/domestic violence, towards a prosperous, sustainable and safe Viet Nam for all," said Ms. Astrid Bant, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam.

It was emphasized that this project will help strengthen the capacity of MOLISA in its coordination role with other line ministries and civil society organizations to promote gender equality and to end GBV/ DV.

Related info

• Speech by Ms. Astrid Bant, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam at the Launching Ceremony of the new collaboration between UNFPA and MOLISA

For further information, please contact:

• Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Thanh, UNFPA Communications, Email:  tnguyen@unfpa.org, Tel: 0913093363
• Ms Nguyen Thi Nga, MOLISA, Email: ntnga@molisa.gov.vn, Tel: 0912308490