National action month, which aims to raise public awareness and call men and boys to action against violence toward women and girls was launched yesterday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

HÀ NỘI – National action month, which aims to raise public awareness and call men and boys to action against violence toward women and girls was launched yesterday in Hà Nội.

The special month was launched by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations in Việt Nam and other development partners.

Addressing the event, Nguyễn Trọng Đàm, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, leading agency in addressing violence against women and girls in the country, said, "This is Việt Nam’s first national action month on gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence, and we aim to raise awareness and call for action to end gender inequality toward a sustainable society.”

“Forming a healthy country with no poverty, ample justice and ’no one is left behind’ is the aspiration of every human being. Gender equality is key," he said.

Astrid Bant, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Việt Nam, said, "This campaign will not be effective without active involvement of Vietnamese men and boys. I hope that all boys and men will stand up to address inequalities, injustice and violence against girls and women.”  

“Ending violence against women should be a priority for every man and woman," she said.  

The campaign consists of a series of activities organised from tomorrow to December 15, including policy dialogues with young people, workshops, a football festival day, concerts, Howabnormal events to break gender stereotypes, bus journeys and a "No more" week. Organisers will also look to train bus drivers to provide them with knowledge and skills on gender equality.

The National Study on Domestic Violence against Women, released by the General Statistics Office and the United Nations in Việt Nam in 2010, showed that 58 per cent of married and once-married women had experienced at least one form of violence, including physical, mental or sexual at some point in their lives.

Approximately 50 per cent of victims did not tell anyone about the violence they endured, and 87 per cent did not seek help from public services.

Violence against women and girls not only has serious impacts on the physical and spiritual well-being of victims, but it also has enormous socio-economic costs. A recent UN study showed that the cost of gender-based violence against women in Việt Nam, in out of pocket expenditures and lost earnings, represented nearly 1.5 per cent of national gross domestic product (GDP)  in 2012. – VNS