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| Representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and UNFPA at the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement__Photo: VNA |
A new project to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to prevent and respond to domestic violence was launched in Hanoi on November 25.
The initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam and funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will run through 2025–2026.
The launch coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25), kicking off the global 16 Days of Activism and Vietnam’s National Action Month for Gender Equality.
Domestic violence remains widespread in Vietnam, with findings from the 2019 national survey showing nearly 63 percent of women have experienced at least one form of violence by a husband or partner, while 31.6 percent endured abuse in the year prior to the survey. Economic costs are also substantial, amounting to an estimated 1.81 percent of Vietnam’s GDP. More than half of survivors never seek help.
The rise of digital platforms has further complicated prevention efforts. Online harassment, digital tracking, threats and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images are increasingly common, prompting calls for stronger reporting mechanisms and more survivor-centered support services.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy highlighted the rigorous preparation behind the project, describing it as an important collaboration between the ministry, government agencies and UNFPA.
The initiative prioritizes establishing a national domestic-violence hotline, improving inter-sectoral coordination, upgrading services for survivors and applying digital technology and creative communication methods.
She asked the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library, the project’s lead agency, to ensure smooth implementation and effective use of aid resources. The project management unit was urged to maintain transparency, comply with legal procedures and prevent waste. International partners were invited to continue supporting Vietnam during ongoing administrative and governance reforms.
UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Matt Jackson reaffirmed the organization’s long-standing cooperation with Vietnam, noting that ending gender-based violence is one of the UNFPA’s central global objectives.
He said the new project would build on more than a decade of joint work with the ministry and offer a crucial opportunity to strengthen and expand efforts, ensuring long-term progress.
The UNFPA would continue to provide technical guidance, policy advice, resource mobilization and evidence-based models, with a particular focus on sustaining and expanding essential services for survivors, he said.
Under the 2025–2026 project, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism serves as the managing agency while the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library acts as the project owner. The program aims to enhance the national and local response to domestic violence through stronger law enforcement, improved service quality and more effective coordination.
The project includes eight major activities, including developing and running a three-digit national domestic-violence hotline; enhancing inter-sectoral coordination; carrying out digital-technology-based community engagement initiatives, particularly involving youth, men and children; and piloting an education and behavioral-change program addressing violent behavior. The project also features communication campaigns, inter-sectoral inspections and a review of existing coordination mechanisms.- (VNA/VLLF)
