• Mr Nguyen Van Toan, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of Hoa Binh province;
• Mr Le Khanh Luong, Director of the Gender Equality Department, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs;
• Ms Naomi Cook, Development Counsellor, Embassy of Australia in  Viet Nam;
• Representatives from the Government’s ministries and agencies, from the provinces of Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh and Dien Bien;

Just a few minutes ago, I was very honoured to join you, Excellencies, in cutting the ribbon to officially inaugurate the One Stop Service Centre (OSSC) – known as Anh Duong House – here in Hoa Binh Province. This demonstrates our shared commitment to championing gender equality and eliminating gender-based violence and domestic violence in Viet Nam, contributing to the Government of Viet Nam’s efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

I thank the People’s Committee and the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Hoa Binh Province for their close collaboration in establishing the Anh Duong House, in organising this opening ceremony, and for demonstrating a strong commitment to eliminating gender-based violence.

I also extend my thanks to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, particularly to Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Ha, and friend of UNFPA Mr Luong, for their work in getting us to this point where we can officially open Anh Duong House in Hoa Binh. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s commitment to replicating the OSSC model across other areas in Viet Nam.

This Anh Duong House is the fifth of its kind in Viet Nam, following centres in Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. This centre was built under the project to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Children in Vietnam 2021–2025, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of the Government of Australia. This partnership has been key to safeguarding the rights of women and girls worldwide, including in Viet Nam. Your leadership inspires us all - thank you Australia.

Anh Duong House provides essential, comprehensive and integrated services, that meet international standards, to women and girls who experience or are at risk of gender-based and domestic violence. Services include health care, psychosocial support, counselling, social welfare services, emergency shelters, police protection, legal and justice services and referral services. As with all One-Stop Service Centres, Anh Duong House is kitted out to support those living with disabilities as well as serve local ethnic minority communities. Additionally, the centre will serve as a hub for community education, helping to shift harmful social norms and attitudes that perpetuate violence.

Dear participants,

The prevalence of violence against women by their husbands or intimate partners remains an alarming issue. According to the 2019 national study on violence against women, nearly two in three women aged 15–64 have experienced at least one form of physical, sexual, psychological, and/or economic violence in their lifetime. This issue remains deeply hidden in Vietnamese society, with over 90% of women who experience violence not seeking help from public services, and half never disclosing their experiences to anyone.

In Hoa Binh, women and girls, including those with disabilities, especially in remote and mountainous areas, face significant barriers in accessing legal information and support services. In the first six months of 2024, Hoa Binh reported 26 cases of domestic violence involving 32 victims, the majority of whom were women. Additionally, the provincial police handled 11 cases of child sexual abuse and five cases of child abuse during the same period. These figures are just the tip of the iceberg, but they underscore the urgent need for a dedicated, survivor-centred approach to address gender-based violence.

Supporting survivors of gender-based violence is in line with Viet Nam’s National Programme on GBV Prevention and Response 2021-2025 and the amended Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, which was adopted by the National Assembly in November 2022. These legal and policy instruments highlight the need to establish effective models and facilities to prevent domestic violence and to support survivors.

Ending GBV and harmful practices against women and girls is one of UNFPA’s three global transformative results. Here in Viet Nam, we are committed to supporting the government in creating safe spaces where survivors are empowered to reclaim their lives.

To this end, UNFPA remains committed to joining the Government of Viet Nam and all partners to ensure the long-term impact of the OSSC model and replicate it nationwide to address the urgent need for survivor-centred services.

UNFPA also calls for commitments from all stakeholders to develop a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism at both national and provincial levels, aligned with global standards, to ensure we leave no one behind. This will help to address gender-based violence comprehensively and consistently across Viet Nam, ensuring that all survivors can access timely and quality support services, regardless of their location or situation.

Every woman, girl and individual in Viet Nam deserves to live a life free from violence, with dignity and opportunity.

Thank you for your continued commitment to this vital mission.

Xin cảm ơn!