MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha speaking at the eventCo-organized by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in Vietnam, the workshop aimed to contribute to the effective implementation of the Program for Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence in the period 2021-2025 and the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2030. The initiative seeks to promote the realization of the Global Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

This workshop falls within the framework of the Joint Program to Eliminate Violence against Women and Children in Vietnam for the period 2021-2025, implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, and UNICEF in collaboration with the Vietnamese government and sponsored by the Australian government.

The event aligns with the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2023 (taking place from November 15 to December 15) and the global solidarity campaign UniTE 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence”(November 25-December 10).

Speaking at the Conference, Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe-Acting Head of Office, UN Women Vietnam said: “The COVID-19 pandemic, disasters caused by climate change and recent armed conflicts have further increased the incidence of gender-based violence globally, casting a shadow over the lives of countless individuals in society, especially women and children. This issue requires not only the attention of governments but also collective efforts, actions and innovative, sustainable approaches to promote change”.

She highlighted the commitment of leaders from relevant agencies in Vietnam and representatives of ASEAN countries to comprehensively and effectively address the profound challenges posed by gender-based violence. 

This year's UniTE campaign underscores the importance of financial investment in gender-based violence prevention. Globally, it is estimated that implementing prevention and response programs to end gender-based violence in 132 low-and middle-income countries by 2030 will require $42 billion.Delegates shared experiences

According to the 2019 National Study on Violence against Women in Viet Nam, violence against women is costing the country an estimated 1.8% of GDP each year. To minimize the negative impact of the crisis, investing in activities to prevent violence against women and children not only benefits individuals and households but also ensures sustainable economic growth.

In response to this situation, Vietnam and ASEAN member countries have implemented measures to ensure social security, promote gender equality, and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The conference serves as an opportunity for Vietnam and countries in the region to share policies, strategies, and successful models, as well as lessons learned from practical experiences, for the more effective implementation of this critical work.

Within the framework of the Conference, delegates discussed the overview of prevention and response to gender-based violence in Vietnam, outstanding and promising models in Vietnam, and insights from the global theoretical and practical framework on preventing gender-based violence "RESPECT Women" and the global framework for responding to gender-based violence called the Service Package - Essential services for women and girls experiencing violence (ESP).

Additionally, the conference featured the participation and sharing of the ASEAN Secretariat on the overview of prevention and response to gender-based violence in the region. The countries of Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Malaysia also presented their typical models in preventing and responding to gender-based violence./.