Shelter for Gender-Based Violence Victims Opened

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has kicked off the second One Stop Service Centre for survivors of gender-based violence in the central province of Thanh Hoa on Jan.21.

At the official launch of the One Stop Service Centre in Thanh Hoa. Source: UNFPA Vietnam

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 “Mitigating Covid-19 impacts on Vulnerable Populations – Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs in Vietnam” project, which is funded by Japan.

The Anh Duong (Sunshine) House provides essential services for women and girls experiencing or at risk of gender-based violence.

It provides a wide range of services, meeting international standards, including healthcare, psychological support, social welfare, emergency shelters, police protection, legal services, and referrals.

The center also has the toll-free hotline 18001744 available 24/7 to detect, prevent, and support survivors of violence.

Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha speaks at the event. Source: UNFPA Vietnam

In her opening remarks, Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha confirmed that the establishment of the Anh Duong House was very timely.

Anh Duong House plays an important role in not only supporting the survivors of gender-based violence, but also strengthening the involvement, responsibilities, and better coordination among relevant departments, sectors, and organizations in addressing gender-based violence.

It will also help raise awareness and change behaviors 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 the northern province of Quang Ninh with technical and financial support from UNFPA in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The Anh Duong House, which has become operational since April 2020 under the Quang Ninh's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, provides round-the-clock and free necessary services to the victims and offers an emergency shelter, giving them healthcare services, and equipping them with life skills and vocational training, and helping them seek jobs and integrate into society.

Victims coming to Anh Duong House are from different circumstances, but most have suffered from physical and emotional violence for some time.

Providing shelter for victims of domestic violence is only a preliminary step. More importantly, experts at Anh Duong House also provide victims with the knowledge and skills to understand their own rights, so that when faced with violent acts, they know how to defend themselves and stay safe.

So far, the Anh Duong House in Quang Ninh has accommodated more than 300 women and children, who are survivors of gender-based violence.

The center’s hotline, which is available 24/7 free of charge, is receiving more than 1,000 calls a month.

The effective models that Quang Ninh has applied have contributed to improving the efficiency of gender-based violence prevention and control in the province, helping build a society of civilization, mutual respect, and equality.

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

UNFPA Representative for Vietnam, Naomi Kitahara. Source: UNFPA Vietnam

Speaking at the launch ceremony, UNFPA Representative for Vietnam, Naomi Kitahara expressed UNFPA’s honor to contribute to the Government of Vietnam’s efforts to stop gender-based violence against women and girls.

According to her, 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 Vietnam, especially the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, in the path to ending violence against women and girls.

"The establishment of this shelter house is one of the outcomes of our collaboration to ensure that all women and girls in Vietnam, including those most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free of violence and with dignity,” Kitahara said.

With UNFPA’s support, more than 500 service providers have been trained to provide care and support for survivors of violence in Vietnam.

Case management has been strengthened with a well-coordinated local governance structure, and standards in care for each sector have been developed.

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