Latest
Press Release
02 August 2022
UN Women and the Japanese Government launched project on Gender-Responsive COVID-19 Prevention and Response
Learn more
Story
02 August 2022
Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Minh, UNODC in Viet Nam Granted the Highest Distinction from the Ministry of Public Security
Learn more
Speech
29 July 2022
International Workshop on the Impacts of Climate Change on the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Vulnerable Groups
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
02 August 2022
Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Minh, UNODC in Viet Nam Granted the Highest Distinction from the Ministry of Public Security
The Viet Nam Ministry of Public Security (MPS) held a ceremony to grant Nguyen Nguyet Minh, Officer-in-Charge, UNODC in Viet Nam the medal for “National Security Protection” to honor her contribution to the partnership between the UNODC and MPS and to the development, peace, and security of Vietnam on July 28. The award was granted by Colonel Le Hoang Duong, Deputy Director General, Foreign Relations Department of MPS, in a formal ceremony attended by representatives from both agencies.
In his remark, Colonel Le Hoang Duong emphasized that in the fast-changing and increasingly complex regional and global security context, Viet Nam has actively promoted multilateral cooperation with various international partners, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), particularly in the field of prevention of and fight against crimes, such as, transnational organized crime and terrorism. He congratulated Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Minh on her receiving the Medal for “National Security Protection” and thanked her for her contributions to foster successful cooperation between UNODC and MPS. Colonel Duong added: “Ms. Nguyet Minh has accompanied UNODC in a third of its road to build and develop cooperation and partnership with relevant Vietnamese agencies… she has directly played an important role in cooperation programs between the two organizations”.
The granting of this award signifies the successful cooperation the government of Viet Nam and UNODC have had for three decades and signals the continuation of the partnership that will go from strength to strength in collectively preventing and responding to transnational organized crime, toward greater national, regional, and global peace and security.
1 of 5

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
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
02 August 2022
UN Women and the Japanese Government launched project on Gender-Responsive COVID-19 Prevention and Response
The project aims to support about 5,000 poor and vulnerable women in 9 provinces and cities including Ha Noi, Da Nang, Dien Bien, Ha Tinh, Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang, Nghe An, Thai Binh and Lao Cai. The priority target are migrant workers, ethnic minorities, people working in the informal sector and those living in disaster-prone areas. Apart from receiving the COVD-19 prevention kits, which include test kits, medical masks and antibacteria gel; the beneficiaries will also be equipped with the necessary skills to prevent and respond to COVID-19, disasters, gender-based violence and information about the available support services. Women survivors of gender-based violence at shelters and the Peace House will be supported in COVID-19 medical examinations and treatment.
The project is a part of a nearly 20-billion-VND regional project implemented in 4 Me-Kong countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam by UN Women Asia-Pacific, with the financial support from the Japanese Government.
With the Japanese Government’s priority concern for people living in the Mejong sub-region in Viet Nam, interventions are also designed to improve the quality of gender-responsive services and the capacity of staff working at Migrant Resource Centres, Viet Nam Women’s Union at all levels, social organizations in the nince provinces mentioned above.
“Emerging evidence over the past year confirmed that the pandemic had a regressive effect on gender equality. In addition, Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, with 75 per cent of disaster-affected populations living in the region. As countries cope with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, they also grapple with the reality of exposure to multiple, severe natural hazards, and potential of a double disaster.”, said Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women Viet Nam. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, in Viet Nam many women have suffered from loss of employment, reduced household income, inadequate housing, lack of life-saving support and services, limited social protection measures, as well as increased stress at home, along with unacceptable high levels of intimate partner violence.”
Due to COVID-19, women’s labor force participation rate fell 8 points between 2019 and 2021, from 70.9% to 62.3%. COVID-19 contributed to a reduction in working hours for women, and the loss of jobs across manufacturing and services. A rapid assessment conducted by UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women with the support of DFAT in 2021 found that women and children in particular were at greater risk during the period of social isolation. The study found that in Viet Nam more than one in three women experienced at least one form of violence during the pandemic period, with more women reporting experiencing controlling behaviors and economic violence.
“We are very pleased that UN Women will take the lead in implementing Gender-responsive COVID-19 response and prevention project. We hope that this project presents an opportunity for restructuring and creating a ‘new normal’ in which no one is left behind.”, said Mr. Sasaki Shohei, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam.
As the representative of the project’s local partners, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong, Chairwoman of the Da Nang Women’s Union said: “The Danang Women's Union representing 9 provinces participating in the project highly appreciates UN Women's timely support in COVID-19 gender-responsive responses. Equipping women, especially the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups with COVID-19 prevention information and supplies, is essential, especially when the pandemic is still ongoing but many people might have let their guard down.”
1 of 5
Press Release
15 July 2022
Prime Minister receives newly-appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam
At the meeting, the Government leader affirmed the nation's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of relations, and strongly advocated multilateral cooperation and the UN's central role in maintaining peace and promoting development cooperation around the world.
Pham underscored the need to respect the UN Charter and international law, particularly the principles of respecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peacefully settling international disputes.
It is necessary to have global approaches for handling global issues, promote international solidarity and multilateralism, regard people at the center in handling common challenges and not sacrifice social welfare and security or the environment for economic development, said the PM.
He expressed thanks to the UN for its support to Viet Nam over the last 45 years, especially in donating vaccines and medical equipment to help the Southeast Asian country in its COVID-19 fight.
The country has made great efforts and contributions to the UN's work, including its successful tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-2021, and sending officials to join UN peacekeeping operations, Pham noted.
He expected that the UN will continue coordinating and supporting Viet Nam in the upcoming time, particularly in realizing sustainable development goals, post-pandemic recovery, social welfare and climate change commitments.
For her part, Tamesis spoke highly of Viet Nam as one of the emerging countries in the region and the world for its dynamism, active contributions to the international community and a model of cooperation between the UN and a developing nation.
She also congratulated the country on its achievements in the fight against COVID-19 and economic recovery.
Tamesis highlighted the significance of this year as the two sides celebrate the 45th year of cooperation, and it is also the first year to implement the Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation between the two sides for 2022-2026.
She pledged to do her utmost to coordinate with UN organizations to help Viet Nam in sustainable socio-economic development, post-pandemic recovery and the implementation of key cooperation priorities between the UN and Viet Nam.
(Source: VNA, VGP)
1 of 5
Press Release
22 June 2022
Join hands to improve essential services to support women and children experiencing gender-based violence
The Essential Services Package (ESP) is a Global Joint Program between the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In Viet Nam, the Program embraces the close coordination and participation of 4 United Nations agencies - UN Women, UNFPA, WHO and UNODC in conjunction with 6 ministries and sectors including the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy.
As demonstrated by the National Study on Violence against Women in Viet Nam 2019, nearly 2 of every 3 women (nearly 63%) have experienced one or more forms of physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence, as well as controlling behaviours perpetrated by a husband/partner in their life. However, more than 90% of women who experienced sexual and/or physical violence by a husband/partner did not seek help from formal services or authorities.
The ESP Program identifies essential services comprising health, social, justice and policing services for women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV). It is crucial for relevant ministries and sectors to strengthen coordination, governance and delivery of quality services coupled with enhancing women and girls' access to essential services. This is a global program supported by the Australian and Spanish governments.
In her opening remarks delivered at the event, Mme. Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs emphasized that “We recognize and highly appreciate the technical assistance from the United Nations agencies, the active and close coordination between relevant agencies in recent years, which has enabled us to gradually formulate and adopt international standards in providing support services to women and girls experiencing violence in Viet Nam. This is also considered a practical pilot step to draw lessons learned for the formulation and completion of policies and laws in this sphere.”
Also at the conference, Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women Viet Nam stated: “I hope that the Government of Viet Nam will also invest more resources in quality services in response to GBV to meet various needs of all women and girls subject to violence. The United Nations in Viet Nam will continue to accompany and be a reliable partner in the journey to eliminate all forms of violence as set forth in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda.”
At the workshop, participants shared practical experiences as well as difficulties and challenges in providing essential gender-sensitive services to women and children subject to GBV while being committed to join hands in further advancing capacity, improving services in the upcoming time.
The Joint Program on ESP showcases the smooth and close coordination among the 4 United Nations agencies and 6 ministries and sectors in Viet Nam with the common goal of providing quality, friendly and timely services to women. and girls experiencing violence.
Key results of the ESP Program from 2017-2022:
• 30 training courses with nearly 6,500 state management officers, service providers in different fields who were trained in knowledge and skills to support women and children experiencing violence in adherence to the victim-centered principle.
• Nearly 60,000 documents, toolkits and leaflets guiding the contents related to the ESP were standardized, formulated and distributed nationwide.
• ESP were successfully developed and piloted in localities:
- A rapid response team for domestic violence prevention and response including different service providers was established in the districts of Ben Tre Province, becoming a typical model nationwide.
- Guidelines for the Process of providing social services, minimum standards for shelters and guidelines for operating hotlines to support survivors of violence have been formulated and piloted.
- A plan for coordination and management of services in Ben Tre and improved social services in Hoa Binh has initially been piloted.
• A high consensus has been obtained among government agencies and the UN on the significance and effectiveness of the ESP. The effective delivery of the ESP will contribute to boosting the successful implementation of the Program on GBV Prevention and Response 2021-2025 in Viet Nam./.
1 of 5
Press Release
16 June 2022
UN Women and Australia launch a project to provide recovery support for women at risk of violence in Ho Chi Minh City and Tien Giang
The project aims to enhance the resilience of women as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to boost the capacity of local service providers to respond to women at risk of violence in an emergency setting. An estimated 8,000 women in HCMC and Tien Giang province who are poor or near-poor, unemployed or have lost their income, and are at higher risk or survivors of violence and abuse, will benefit from cash transfers and technical assistance for livelihood recovery.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and disparities including gender issues in Viet Nam,” said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Representative in Viet Nam at the launching event of the project. “Women’s loss of employment and income and increased unpaid care responsibilities has only served to underscore inequality in gender roles and the increase of women’s economic dependence and vulnerability.” She emphasized that economic stress, disaster-related instability, and limited access to, or knowledge of, services are known to increase the risk of violence against women and children.
The second survey on the National Prevalence of Violence Against Women conducted in 2019 found that two in three women or 62.9%,[1] who self-identified as ever being married, had experienced violence at the hands of their husbands in their lifetime. Around half, 49.6%, of the women interviewed who reported having experienced violence had never told anyone, and 90.4% did not seek professional support. Due to COVID-19, women’s labor force participation rate fell 8 points between 2019 and 2021, from 70.9% to 62.3%. COVID-19 contributed to a reduction in working hours for women, and the loss of jobs across manufacturing and services. A rapid assessment conducted by UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women with the support of DFAT in 2021 found that women and children, in particular, were at greater risk during the period of social isolation. The study found that more than one in three women in Viet Nam experienced at least one form of violence during the pandemic, with more women reporting experiencing controlling behaviors and economic violence.
“This project addresses the intertwined issues of women at risk of violence and women with insecure incomes. Our goal is to support women to be more resilient, in their incomes and in their ability to access the support they need to be safe and prosperous,” said Australian Ambassador H.E Robyn Mudie. “We expect that this comprehensive support will assist them in this recovery period and that lessons from the program can be used to improve emergency response and recovery in the future.”
The new project will equip the beneficiaries with knowledge and life skills to cope with gender-based violence and information on how to seek available services and support. By the end of the project in March 2023, it is expected that 5 million people will have increased their awareness of issues related to Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence. The project interventions are also designed to enhance the capacity of about 2,000 key service providers to respond effectively 24/7 to women’s needs in an integrated manner, following the guidance of the United Nations’ Essential Services Package (ESP) for victims of violence against women and children.
Mrs Lam Thi Ngoc Hoa, Standing Vice President, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union shared that the COVID-19 epidemic in Ho Chi Minh City has directly affected people's lives, especially families with difficult circumstances: lost livelihoods, job loss, no income, orphans, etc. “Although the City has been proactive, solutions to recover economic development and mobilize social security, especially support for affected women and children has not reached all those who need assistance. Therefore, there is still a great need for programs and projects to support more women and children to help them recover from the COVID-19 epidemic”, she said.
[1] Assessment on gender equality issues in the Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP) developed by UN Women, DFAT, ADB, and ILO in 2021
1 of 5
Press Release
13 June 2022
UN Women-suported workshop: Promoting policewomen can strengthen prevention of violence against women and girls
Promoting female officers to leadership and technical roles as first responders to emerging security issues can strengthen the ability of law enforcement to mitigate risks; prevent and fight crimes against women and girls; ensure access to justice; and facilitate gender-responsive services to female victims of human trafficking, family violence, sexual abuse and cybercrimes. Increasing the representation and roles of women in policing reduces the incidence of violence against women in many circumstances.
According to the UN Women report Women in Law Enforcement in the ASEAN Region, policewomen have found their career advancement hindered by a lack of opportunities to gain operational and technical experience and networking; bias in favor of male colleagues for promotion; stereotypes that prioritize women’s role in the family over profession; and high social expectations on female leaders of families and departments/bureaus.
In opening the workshop, Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Viet Nam, said: “Evidence shows that women’s voices and leadership not only make a difference—they bring lasting peace that benefits their communities and countries. When women are involved in peace and security efforts, solutions are more comprehensive, reflecting what a community actually needs to recover from conflict. This increases community buy-in and offers a better opportunity to address the root causes of conflict.”
In her opening remarks, Elisa Fernandez, UN Women’s Head of Office in Viet Nam, said: “The National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030 has paved the way for policewomen in Viet Nam to transition to a higher level of partnership with policemen, where women are promoted equally based on the principles of equity, duties, policies and respect, and both sides work toward reducing and eliminating stereotypes and gender-based discrimination, both at work and at home.”
With investments in their professional development, policewomen leaders will be able to respond to the demands of gender-sensitive policing and emerging crimes such as cybercrimes. And Viet Nam can translate into action its international and national commitments to gender equality and the United Nations Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Colonel Ngo Hoai Thu, Chairman of the Women’s Union of Public Security, and Colonel Le Duc Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of External Relations of the Ministry of Public Security, attended the workshop together with Supt. Marie-Claude Côté of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Gaelle Demolis, UN Women Regional Office Programme Specialist on Governance, Peace and Security. Côté and Demolis shared their international experience and insights on cybersecurity in the ASEAN region.
The workshop was organized under UN Women’s regional project, Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: Preventing Violence and Promoting Social Cohesion in ASEAN, funded by the Governments of Canada and the Republic of Korea.
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
22 June 2022
Resources
09 March 2022
1 / 11