A national workshop on the One Stop Service Center (OSSC) model supporting women and girls facing violence in Vietnam was held in Hanoi. Such centers, known as Anh Duong Houses, provide comprehensive services to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), including healthcare, psychological support, counseling, emergency shelters, social welfare services, legal support and referrals.

At the workshop. Photo courtesy of the UNFPA

At the workshop held in Hanoi on May 25, delegates exchanged insights and suggested initiatives aimed at enhancing the performance and service quality of the pioneering one-stop service center model, specifically designed to aid women and girls affected by domestic violence, VNA reported.

The workshop was co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The gathering represented a key element of the UNFPA's ongoing project – the development of a supportive framework for female victims of domestic violence in Vietnam. Initiated in July of the previous year, the ambitious project is set to conclude in June.

The project aims to ensure the sustainability of the one-stop service center model, named Ngoi nha Anh Duong (Sunshine House).

The one-stop service center to support women and girls experiencing domestic violence was first established in northern Quang Ninh province in April 2020 under a project funded by the KOICA with a total budget of USD 2.5 million.

Last year, three more Sunshine Houses were established in central Thanh Hoa province, central Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City with financial support from the Japanese Government. Costs for operation are then covered by funding from the Australian Government.

The Sunshine House provides essential services to women and girls experiencing or at risk of gender-based and domestic violence.

It offers various services, including medical care, psychological support, counseling, emergency shelter, public protection, and legal and judicial services.

All services are based on the principle that victims of violence are respected, and their dignity is protected.

Representatives of the four Sunshine Houses said that service providers at the houses had to work very hard to meet the needs of local women and girls.

The four Sunshine Houses have supported more than 1,100 people experiencing gender-based violence.

The Sunshine Houses’ hotlines have received and handled more than 20,000 calls from people experiencing violence.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha gives a speech at the workshop. Photo courtesy of the UNFPA

Nguyen Thi Ha Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha highly appreciated the effective operation of the OSSC model introduced by UNFPA, and highlighted that the discussion on its replication to other areas is a manifestation of the government's efforts to support GBV survivors with essential services and a survivor-centered approach, contributing to addressing GBV in Vietnam.

Ha said, "Vietnam has always made great efforts to promote gender equality and prevent gender-based violence, especially violence against women and girls.”

“Replicating the model of one-stop service centers like Sunshine House is essential and important to support people experiencing gender-based violence to access integrated services. To do this requires the participation of all levels, agencies and organizations,” she said.

Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, said that UNFPA wanted to ensure that all women and girls in Vietnam, including the most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free from violence and without loss of dignity.

“Women and girls will not be left behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” she said.

Cho Han-Deog, Country Director of KOICA Vietnam, said KOICA considered gender equality an integrated content in its official development programs and projects, stating that KOICA is willing to invest USD 5 million to replicate the model in Ha Tinh and Khanh Hoa provinces in the coming years.

Speaking at the workshop, the representatives all agreed that the one-stop service center model replication was consistent with Vietnam's laws, policies, and priorities in response to gender-based violence and domestic violence.

The workshop highlighted the need for policies, guidelines, and coordination mechanisms to replicate the model successfully. To ensure its long-term sustainability, it is crucial to have regular budget allocations from the government and local authorities. It is also essential to involve other organizations, individuals, and the private sector in mobilizing financial, technical, and human resources.

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