Thanh Hoa, 21 January 2022: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs kicked off the second One Stop Service Centre for survivors of gender-based violence in Thanh Hoa Province. This is another outcome of the collaboration between the Ministry and the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA towards ending gender-based violence against women and girls under the UNFPA Project: “Mitigating COVID 19 impacts on Vulnerable Populations – Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs in Viet Nam,” which is funded by the Government of Japan.

The Anh Duong House provides essential, comprehensive, and integrated services to women and girls who are experiencing and/or at risk of gender-based violence. It provides a wide range of services, meeting international standards, including health care, psychological support, counselling, social welfare services, emergency shelters, police protection, legal and justice services, and referrals. Protecting the rights and safety of survivors of gender-based violence, the Centre also has the toll-free hotline 18001744 available 24/7 to detect, prevent, and support survivors of violence.

In her opening remarks to officially launch the One Stop Service Centre in Thanh Hoa today, the Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha confirmed that the establishment of the Anh Duong House was very timely. She said: “The Anh Duong House plays an important role in not only supporting the survivors of gender-based violence, but also strengthening the involvement, the responsibilities, and better coordination among relevant departments, sectors, and organizations in addressing gender-based violence in a professional and friendly manner, using the survivor-centred approach. It will also help raise awareness and change behaviours of communities, thus contributing to preventing and pushing back acts of violence against women and girls.” 

The first One Stop Service Centre was established in Quang Ninh with technical and financial support from UNFPA in partnership with KOICA. Started its operation in April 2020, the Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh has accommodated more than 300 women and children, who are the survivors of gender-based violence. The Centre’s hotline, which is available 24/7 free of charge, is receiving more than 1,000 calls a month.

The Anh Duong House in Thanh Hoa is a replication of the model in Quang Ninh. And it is planned that the similar model will be established in HCM City and Danang in the first quarter of 2022, funded also by the Government of Japan, to meet the needs of not only the survivors of gender-based violence but also women and girls who are at risk of violence.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the UNFPA Representative for Vietnam, Ms. Naomi Kitahara expressed UNFPA’s honour to contribute to the Government of Vietnam’s efforts to stop gender-based violence against women and girls. She said: “Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls is one of the three transformative results of UNFPA’s corporate Strategic Plan. In Vietnam, UNFPA has been accompanying the Government of Viet Nam, especially the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in the path to ending violence against women and girls. The establishment of this OSSC is one of the outcomes of our collaboration to ensure that all women and girls in Viet Nam, including those most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free of violence and with dignity.”

With UNFPA’s support, more than 500 service providers have been trained to provide care and support to survivors of violence in Viet Nam. Case management has been strengthened with a well-coordinated local governance structure, and standards in care for each sector have been developed.

The Government of Japan highly appreciated UNFPA and MOLISA for the tireless effort on the prevention and response to violence against women and girls in Viet Nam, which is prevalent especially in the COVID 19 context. By funding the establishment of the Anh Duong House in Thanh Hoa, the Government of Japan was pleased to have been able to contribute to mitigating the negative impact of COVID 19 in Viet Nam, making sure that everyone is part of the country’s sustainable development process.

Note to editors:

The findings of the UNFPA-supported National Study on Violence against Women in Vietnam in 2019 showed nearly 2 in 3 women (62.9%) experienced at least one form of physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence and controlling behaviours by their husband in their lifetime. And half of the women who experienced physical and or/sexual violence by a husband/partner has told no one about it, and most of the women (90.4) experiencing violence did not seek any help. Therefore, violence against women is very much hidden in Vietnamese society.

In the COVID-19 context, violence against women has worsened globally, and Vietnam is no exception. The number of calls for help to the UNFPA-supported hotline in Quang Ninhhas doubled or even tripled due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, the UNFPA – supported hotline for the Vietnam Farmers’ Union received more than 2,600 calls, just 40 days after the launch (from 20 Nov. to 31 Dec. 2021).

For further information, please contact:

Ms Nguyen Viet Hai,

Gender Equality Department officer, email: hainv@molisa.gov.vn  Mobile: 0983.084.703

Ms Dinh Thu Huong

UNFPA Communications Officer, email: dhuong@unfpa.org; Mobile: 0913301539