 |
| Youth Union members and local authorities in Pu Nhi commune, Dien Bien province, visit households to raise awareness of the marriage and family law and the harmful effects and consequences of child marriage and consanguineous marriage__Photo: baotintuc.vn |
Vietnam has introduced a range of policies and measures to prevent and eventually eliminate child marriage and consanguineous marriage in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, with a focus on raising public awareness, changing traditional practices and strengthening community-based interventions.
According to Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Political Commissar of the Border Guards, limited access to education and low levels of awareness remain among the main factors contributing to the persistence of these practices.
During the 2015-25 period, the Border Guards implemented 24 models and programmes aimed at supporting border communities through public outreach, education, healthcare and poverty reduction.
Some initiatives, including programmes involving teachers and medical personnel serving in border areas and efforts to support women in border communities, have been maintained for more than three decades. Together, they have helped build thousands of homes and improve living conditions for local residents.
Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Ngoc Binh, Political Commissar of Mon Son Border Guard Post in Nghe An province, said close engagement with local communities had helped border guard officers raise awareness of the consequences of child marriage and consanguineous marriage. Following an approach that emphasises living and working alongside local residents, officers have regularly visited households, provided guidance and encouraged people to abandon harmful traditional practices.
According to Binh, these efforts have contributed to positive changes in local attitudes towards child marriage, consanguineous marriage and outdated wedding and funeral customs.
Residents have become more aware of family relationships and the risks of marriage between close blood relatives. They have also shown greater acceptance of family planning, contraception and medical treatment at military-civilian healthcare facilities rather than relying on unscientific remedies.
Long-term solutions
Deputy Minister of Ethnic Minority and Religious Affairs Nong Thi Ha called for more practical and engaging public awareness campaigns to prevent child marriage and consanguineous marriage.
She stressed the need to move away from one-way communication towards more interactive approaches, using concise, accessible materials drawn from everyday situations and strengthening premarital counselling and health examinations.
Ha also highlighted the importance of village elders, community leaders, respected local figures, religious dignitaries and border guards in communicating legal information and encouraging changes in attitudes and behaviour.
Promoting gender equality and strengthening the role of ethnic minority women are also essential to preventing child marriage and forced marriage. Better access to education and greater participation in family and community decision-making can help women and girls protect their rights and resist pressure to marry early.
Alongside education and community engagement, authorities have been urged to strengthen law enforcement and take appropriate action against those who deliberately violate marriage laws, including individuals involved in unlawful marriages with minors, in accordance with the Penal Code.
Combining legal enforcement with education, healthcare support and community participation is expected to help reduce child marriage and consanguineous marriage and support sustainable development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.- (VLLF)
