Page 28 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Violence against women in Vietnam

3.2. Low percentage of men’s engagement in remedy. Vietnam has developed support models such as
preventing and responding to violence Peace House. Some provinces, with technical and financial
Promoting women’s participation is a criterion for promoting support from UNFPA, KOIKA, and UN Women, have
gender equality in Vietnam. In 2015, Vietnam introduced a introduced the “one-shop-stop” model (Huong & Ly,
legal requirement that at least 35% of candidates in elections 2022). Victims of domestic violence and children under 16
must be women. Although there was a slight 2% increase in the are also eligible for free legal aid, as prescribed by the Law
2016 – 2020 term, this still fell short of meeting the mandated on Legal Aid 2017.
quota. However, there was a significant improvement in However, multiple barriers often make victims of
the 2021 – 2026 term. During the 2021 elections, female violence reluctant to seek support. For example, victims of
candidates comprised 45.38% of the total number of sexual violence face obstacles when reporting an incident,
candidates, and the proportion of female National Assembly including harmful gender stereotypes that perpetuate
Deputies rose to 30.26%. This was the 1 time that women’s misconceptions about what qualifies as “legitimate” rape
st
representation exceeded 30%, reaching its highest level since and a “genuine victim.” These stereotypes influence beliefs
1976 (UN Women et al., 2021). However, men’s participation and assumptions about how an “ideal victim” should act,
in efforts to prevent and respond to GBV remains low. which, in turn, impacts the assessment of a survivor’s
Vietnam’s efforts to prevent and respond to GBV have credibility and affects how the criminal justice system
been organized from the national level to the local level handles cases related to VAW (UN Women, 2017.25).
through the establishment of the Women’s Advancement Victim blaming poses a considerable obstacle to women
Committee at the provincial and district levels (Decision seeking justice, particularly for GBV victims. Handling
No. 1585/QĐ-TTg, dated November 11, 2009). The cases of violence is challenging for these victims (Huong
Committee includes members of different state organs and & Ly, 2022). Domestic violence persists as a private matter
the Women’s Union at the same level. However, there is a within families, often pressuring women to make sacrifices
significant gender imbalance within this committee, with a for the sake of their families and to uphold their husbands’
limited number of male members. Most GBV programs have reputations. Women in rural areas lacking a stable income
been led and executed by women. This is largely due to the may find it challenging to request divorce due to financial
perception that these initiatives are designed for women and dependency.
should be managed by women. There is a prevailing notion Gender discrimination and stereotypes also remain
that men should primarily focus on labor-intensive tasks and challenging issues in women’s empowerment because
decision-making roles, thereby hindering their involvement of power imbalances, which impact women’s complete
in GBV prevention and gender equality promotion programs. and equal involvement in both politics and employment.
Recently, some provinces have collaborated with UN This situation is further exacerbated by women’s dual
Women to establish a model of men’s engagement in the responsibilities of work and caregiving, particularly with
prevention of VAW, such as the Men’s Club of Da Nang their disproportionate share of domestic and care-related
Province and Ho Chi Minh City. As Elisa Fernandez, Head roles. Although awareness campaigns are important, they
of the UN Women’s Head of Office in Vietnam, pointed also have limitations. To create meaningful change, it
out, attaining gender equality necessitates a fundamental is essential to address structural factors such as unequal
shift in the imbalanced power dynamics between men power dynamics (UN Women et al., 2021). To address
and women. This transformation involves challenging the this, the National Program on Preventing and Responding
established ideas of masculinity and traditional concepts to GBV (2021 – 2025) set a goal of ensuring that 50% of
of manhood. It calls upon men to critically examine victims can access support services. If Vietnam is to meet
power structures, not only in their personal lives but also this target, it must establish a comprehensive package of
in their interactions with others and within society. Men essential support services alongside other measures aimed
must acknowledge their role in instigating and assuming at eradicating VAW.
responsibility for change (UNDP, 2018). Hence, Vietnam
should engage more men in prevention programs to better 4. Conclusion
raise awareness of the need to address VAW. Despite introducing the Law on Gender Equality and
the National Program on Preventing and Responding to
3.3. Obstacles to obtaining protection and access to GBV over the past two decades, Vietnam continues to
crucial support services grapple with the persistent issue of VAW. VAW remains a
Providing support services for victims is crucial for significant barrier, preventing women from fully exercising
ensuring that GBV victims can seek protection and their rights and participating in society, which in turn

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 22 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1758