The workshop discussing the development of a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism in preventing and responding to gender-based violence. (Photo: TH)

On November 3 in Ha Tinh, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ha - the Vice Minister of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs and Mr. Matt Jackson - UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam chaired an advocacy workshop to discuss the development of a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism in preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

Also presence at the workshop were Mr. Le Ngoc Chau, Vice Chairperson of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, and representatives from the relevant Government’s ministries and agencies, the Departments of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs and others stakeholders providing support to survivors of the gender-based violence in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh and Ho Chi Minh City.

At the workshop, the international guidelines on multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender-based violence were shared. The participants also heard the lessons learnt and experience in implementing the multi-sectoral coordination mechanism to prevent and respond to domestic violence and to gender-based violence and child abuse in Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City.

In her opening remarks at the Workshop, Vice Minister of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said: “In Viet Nam, gender equality in general and the prevention and response to gender-based violence have been one of the major concerns of the Party, the State, and the Government’s relevant ministries and agencies. We are committed to undertaking various solutions to address these issues. They include the institutionalisation, the policies, communications activities, awareness raising, capacity building, research, and piloting models to provide services to gender-based violence survivors".

According to Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Ha, the determination of relevant ministries and agencies also reflected in multi-sectoral coordination in addressing different aspects of gender-based violence. For instance: the multi-sectoral coordination to prevent and respond to domestic violence; the coordination mechanism in receiving, protecting, and supporting victims of human trafficking among the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and the coordination mechanism on preventing and responding to sexual violence and sexual abuse against children among the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Despite many significant achievements, preventing and responding to gender-based violence continues to encounter many challenges. Gender-based violence is still prevalent. Worryingly, the majority of women who are survivors of violence have not sought help from formal support services or local authorities. The system of service provision still faces many difficulties in terms of facilities, equipment, human resources, and skills of service providers. Coordination between relevant agencies and stakeholders remains inconsistent and asynchronous, affecting the quality of support for people experiencing violence and causing hesitation in those who require assistance.

Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Ha stated that it was critical to expand and improve the quality of the services to support survivors of violence. To achieve that goal, it is essential to have better coordination of all relevant agencies and organizations at the central and local levels.

Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, agreed that a national mechanism would help to ensure coordination between different sectors and stakeholders. He said: “UNFPA commits to support the Government of Viet Nam to develop a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism at national and provincial levels, aligning with global standards to ensure that we leave no one behind. This will help to address GBV comprehensively and consistently across Viet Nam so that all survivors can access timely and quality support services regardless of their location or situation.”

The workshop discussed and recommended the significance of a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism at the central and local levels as well as the need to clearly define the specific roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies in preventing and responding to gender-based violence. Conclusions of the workshop constitute the ground for further research and proposal to formulate a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism to prevent and respond to gender-based violence at the national level in the near future.