Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

The Vietnam Farmers' Union (VFU) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on May 31 launched a 7-million-USD project to prevent, combat and respond to violence and other harmful behaviours in the 2022 – 2026 period.

The project is part of the 10th country programme for Vietnam funded by UNFPA in the 2022 – 2026 period.

As a coordinator of the project, the VFU’s Central Committee will closely coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to deploy it in Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang and Lam Dong.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Vice Chairman of VFU Nguyen Xuan Dinh thanked UNFPA for its technical support over the past years, saying he hopes the project will contribute to reducing gender-based violence against women and girls in Vietnam.

The VFU pledged to practically and effectively implement the project, towards meeting the needs and ensuring the safety of Vietnamese women and girls, and ensuring social standards and preventing harmful acts and gender stereotypes - which are the root causes of gender-based violence.

Emphasising that violence against women is one of the most common violations of human rights existing in many countries around the world, including Vietnam, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara said within the framework of its 10th country programme for Vietnam, the agency will support the VFU to come up with innovative initiatives towards digital application in order to promote change in social perception, and behaviour.

UNFPA will also assist in mobilising men and boys to engage in solving problems and building healthy and non-violent relationships, she said.

According to UNFPA, the project will support advocacy and advice on amending the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, and Gender Equality Law.

A survey supported by UNFPA in 2019 showed that nearly two in three married women (almost 63 percent) have experienced one or more forms of physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence and controlling behaviours by their husbands in their lifetime. About 48 percent of victims did not tell anyone about the violence they endured, and 90.4 percent did not seek any help from public services.

The survey also reflected a higher rate of violence against women in rural areas than in urban areas.

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993, the concept of gender-based violence (GBV) is understood as follows:

Gender-based violence is violence directed at an individual based on their gender. It includes acts that cause physical, psychological, and sexual harm, threats leading to such acts, coercion, and other forms of deprivation of freedom.

Gender-based violence has a broader scope than domestic violence; while men and boys can also be affected, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by GBV.

I. Forms of Gender-Based Violence Gender-based violence manifests in various forms, including domestic violence, child marriage, forced marriage, human trafficking, child sexual abuse, forced prostitution, sexual harassment, sex-selective abortion, etc.

Women and girls may experience different forms of GBV throughout their lives, from before birth, infancy, adolescence, adulthood, and into old age. These forms include:

• Before birth: Sex-selective abortion, physical abuse during pregnancy affecting both emotional and physical health of women and pregnancy outcomes, forced pregnancy.

• Infancy: Female infanticide, gender-based discrimination in nutrition and healthcare.

• Childhood: Child marriage, sexual abuse by family members and strangers, discrimination in nutrition and medical care.

• Adolescence: Dating violence, workplace sexual harassment, rape, forced prostitution, human trafficking, child prostitution.

• Adulthood: Sexual abuse by male partners, marital rape, psychological abuse, workplace sexual harassment, rape, abuse of disabled women, human trafficking.

• Old age: Abuse of widows and elderly women, which includes emotional abuse (e.g., intimidation, isolation, property destruction), financial abuse (e.g., illegal control over money or assets), and health-related abuse (e.g., inflicting pain, causing stress, anxiety, and depression).

1. Psychological Violence

Psychological violence is common but harder to recognize than physical violence. It does not involve direct physical force such as beating but instead consists of verbal abuse, humiliation, controlling behaviors, and psychological pressure that negatively affect the victim’s legal rights and interests.

Prolonged psychological violence can lead to mental health issues such as depression and trauma due to prolonged exposure to stress, sadness, and emotional suppression.

2. Physical Violence

Physical violence refers to any intentional act that causes injury or harm, including:

• Threatening or attacking with weapons or objects.

• Confining or tying up the victim.

• Slapping, punching, pinching, pulling hair, burning, strangling, or beating.

• Throwing objects at the victim.

• Stripping the victim of their clothing.

• Killing the victim.

3. Sexual Violence

Sexual violence often follows psychological and physical violence and is a severe form of control and humiliation against women. It includes:

• Beating the victim to force sexual intercourse.

• Unwanted touching of private areas.

• Using obscene language to coerce sexual acts.

• Drugging someone’s drink to facilitate sexual assault.

• Refusing to use contraceptives or condoms.

• Forced sexual intercourse, sexual assault/harassment.

• Forced pregnancy or abortion.

• Forcing the victim to watch pornographic materials.

• Forcing the victim to witness others' sexual activities.

4. Economic Violence

Economic violence involves coercive tactics to control family members financially, creating economic dependence. It can be as damaging as physical violence and includes:

• Denying family members access to common property for legitimate purposes.

• Strictly controlling family finances to make members financially dependent.

• Forcing excessive financial contributions beyond one’s means.

• Destroying personal property to exert psychological pressure.

• Deliberately damaging family property.

• Seizing personal or family assets for personal use.

• Forcing family members into excessive labor, hazardous work, or illegal jobs.

• Forcing family members into begging or homelessness.

II. Causes of Gender-Based Violence

Some primary causes include:

• Gender inequality: The root cause of male violence against women in families. Women often have less power in decision-making, making them vulnerable to male violence.

• Social vices: Alcoholism, gambling, drug addiction, and prostitution increase the likelihood of violence, especially within families.

• Economic hardships: Financial stress creates pressure and tension, leading to family conflicts and violence.

• Work stress: Financial struggles or job loss can lead men to use violence to assert dominance.

• Lack of legal awareness: Many people, including victims, are unaware of their legal rights, leading to silent suffering.

• Cultural norms: Some communities consider domestic violence a private family matter, discouraging intervention.

• Weak enforcement: Delays in detecting, preventing, and penalizing acts of violence contribute to its persistence.

III. Consequences of Gender-Based Violence

Physical health:

• Injuries, disabilities, or even death.

Mental health:

• Persistent trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts.

Reproductive health:

• Unwanted pregnancies, malnutrition in fetuses, miscarriage, premature birth, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV.

Impact on children:

• Infants: Malnutrition, developmental delays, social withdrawal.

• Pre-teens: Poor concentration, social difficulties, anxiety.

• Teenagers: Poor academic performance, substance abuse, criminal activity, low trust in adults, suicidal tendencies.

Impact on families:

• Divorce, financial burdens, and long-term psychological trauma for family members.

Impact on perpetrators:

• Broken relationships, legal consequences, social isolation.

Societal impact:

• Reduced contributions from victims and perpetrators, weakened workforce productivity, social instability, and erosion of traditional family values.

IV. Solutions to Reduce Gender-Based Violence

• Strengthening awareness campaigns about the negative impacts of GBV and domestic violence.

• Enhancing the role of authorities in promoting gender equality and preventing violence.

• Establishing community regulations to foster gender equality and peaceful family relationships.

• Creating family support programs, including knowledge-sharing on marriage, conflict resolution, and emotional well-being.

• Eliminating social vices to reduce risk factors for violence.

• Timely intervention and legal enforcement to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

• Promoting gender-sensitive education to prevent sex-selective abortions, forced pregnancies, and domestic violence.

• Preventing child marriage and incestuous marriages among ethnic minorities.

• Condemning gender-based discrimination in nutrition and healthcare.

• Preventing sexual harassment and abuse at workplaces and ensuring strict legal action against offenders.

• Strengthening employment opportunities to reduce financial stress that leads to violence.

• Encouraging positive family dynamics and mutual respect between spouses.

• Providing shelters and psychological support for GBV victims.

Combatting and Preventing Gender-Based Violence

A 2013 global study by the World Health Organization reported that 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. In Vietnam, cases of sexual abuse against children and violence against women remain alarmingly high. Between 2011-2015, over 8,200 child abuse cases were recorded, affecting nearly 10,000 victims.