National campaign launched to end violence against women and girls

Violence against women and girls must end now

NDO – A national joint communication campaign in response to the United Nations-initiated International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (November 23) was launched in Hanoi on November 18.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai said that the campaign is intended to emphasise the importance of co-ordination among Government-run agencies, UN agencies in Vietnam, and domestic and international social organisations in ending violence against women and girls, and in preventing domestic violence in Vietnam.

Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Co-ordinator and UNDP Resident Representative stressed the need for further participation of boys and girls in social activities and to develop co-operative relations between women and men in a bid to end violence, conflict and war.

Both men and women should take the lead in the movement for gender equality and in the fight against violence, she said.

The national campaign, launched by the MoCST in co-ordination with relevant ministries and sectors, embraces a series of activities including seminars, exhibitions, and marathon.

The activities will be held in 12 cities and provinces across the country, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Nam and Da Nang until December 16.

According to a nationwide survey on domestic violence in Vietnam carried out in 2010 by the General Statistics Office and the UN in Vietnam, 55% of the interviewees experienced at least one of three forms of domestic violence: physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Around 50% of the victims had never ever told anyone about their situation, and 85% of them had not sought support from public services.

Violence against women not only hurts the victims’ physical and spiritual lives but also causes economic loss to families and society as a whole. Altogether, the opportunity cost and productivity loss due to domestic violence amounted to nearly 1.5% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2010 alone.

(Source: VOV/ Translated by Nhan Dan Online)

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