Hanoi, 13 January 2025: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has allocated USD 5.5 million to fund two news projects to support the Government of Viet Nam with technical and financial support from UNFPA to address gender-based violence against women and girls, especially marginalised groups such as people living with disabilities and LGBTQI+ communities. 

Today, Mr Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam and Mr Lee Byung Hwa, Viet Nam Country Director of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) jointly launch two important KOICA-funded projects to i) promote the replication of the One Stop Service Centre model, also known as Anh Duong House, in other localities across Viet Nam and ii) to support emergency relief and post-disaster recovery for Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh province. UNFPA in Viet Nam will work closely with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other relevant ministries and agencies as well as the local authorities of Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh and Khanh Hoa to fully implement this project by the end of 2027. 

With the support of KOICA for the 1st phase of the project entitled “Building a support model to respond and prevent violence against women and girls in Viet Nam," from 2017 to 2021, the first-ever One-Stop Service Center (OSSC) (Anh Duong House) was established and opened in Quang Ninh province in 2020 to provide comprehensive services for survivors of gender-based violence. 

In 2022, KOICA and UNFPA pledged to undertake the first “bridge-phase” project to sustain and strengthen the achievements of the first phase and to ensure the sustainable, long-term operation of Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh.

Following the success of these two projects, KOICA decided to fund the second phase project, entitled “Promote replication of a model in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in Viet Nam to enhance support for service delivery to women and girls subjected to violence”. This project will support the establishment and operation of new Anh Duong Houses in other localities. It will contribute to strengthening a multi-sectoral response in addressing violence against women and girls at national and subnational levels. The initiative will prioritise marginalised groups including individuals living with disabilities and LGBTQI+ communities. It will also raise awareness among employers, employees, labour unions, and the community about sexual violence and harassment at the workplace, especially at industrial zones. A core component of this project will be behavioural change, engaging men and boys through targeted communication campaigns to foster positive masculinities and address the root causes of violence.

Additionally, KOICA will fund the 2nd “bridge phase” project to be implemented in 2025 to “Support Emergency Relief and Post Disaster Recovery for Quang Ninh One Stop Service Centre”. UNFPA will provide technical support to strengthen disaster preparedness and response capabilities at both local and national levels, thus ensuring that communities are better equipped to handle GBV emergencies.

In his address at the launch of the two new Projects, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam Matt Jackson stressed: “The two new KOICA-funded projects aim to strengthen GBV response efforts and to ensure uninterrupted support for survivors in Viet Nam. This support is timely and crucial, especially as Viet Nam continues to recover from widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Yagi last year. Importantly, these new projects provide opportunities for Viet Nam to learn from international expertise and best practices to enhance effective prevention and response to gender-based violence.”

These projects also support the implementation of Viet Nam’s National Programme on GBV Prevention and Response (2021-2025); the Strategy on Gender Equality (2021-2030) and the amended Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, which was adopted by the National Assembly in November 2022. They align with Viet Nam’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality.

Mr Lee Byung Hwa, KOICA Country Director in Viet Nam highlighted the significance of KOICA’s funds to UNFPA. He stressed: These projects serve as a testament to the power of collaboration. The partnership between KOICA, UNFPA, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and our dedicated partners in Quang Ninh, Ha Tinh and Khanh Hoa plays a crucial role in the success of this project. I strongly believe that these joint efforts will foster a safe and equitable society for all women and girls in Viet Nam. Let's join hands to break the cycle of violence, empower survivors and to build a future where every woman and girl can reach her full potential. KOICA is committed to supporting the realization of this future.”

Ending violence against women and girls requires sustained effort, commitment and partnership. UNFPA and KOICA commit to working together toward a future where all women and children in Viet Nam, including the most vulnerable, can live free from violence, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Note to editors:

• 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.
• The Anh Duong House provides essential, comprehensive, and integrated services to women and girls who are experiencing and/or at risk of gender-based and domestic violence. It provides a wide range of services, meeting international standards, including health care, psychosocial support, counselling, social welfare services, emergency shelters, police protection, legal and justice services, and referrals. All services provided at the OSSC are based on the survivor-centred principle, in which survivors are treated with respect and dignity, and assured of privacy and confidentiality.
• The first ever Anh Duong House was opened in Quang Ninh in April 2020 by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) with technical and financial support from UNFPA in partnership with KOICA. In 2022, UNFPA mobilized the financial support of the Japanese government and the Australian government to replicate and operate OSSC in 3 other provinces, including Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City. The fifth Anh Duong House was newly opened in Hoa Binh with fund from the Government of Australia.