HCM CITY — Female workers in the garment and textile industry exchanged experiences at a forum to raise people’s awareness about violence against women and girls held in HCM City on Thursday.

The forum was organised by the Việt Nam General Labour Confederation (VGCL) in collaboration with the Việt Nam Textile and Garment Trade Unions.

Trịnh Thanh Hằng from the VGCL said that most of the 2.5 million labourers in the garment and textile industry are women.

About 85 per cent of Vietnamese women have experienced at least one form of violence, including physical, mental or sexual, at some point in their lives, she said.

Lê Thị Linh Trang, a psychologist from the HCM City Cadre Academy, expressed her concern about violence and sexual abuse against children, especially girls, in Việt Nam.

Besides abuse at home, women and girls are also subjects of human trafficking, she said.
“I hope that all female labourers will inspire friends, relatives and the community to say no to violence against women and girls, not just domestic violence,” Trang said.

During the event, many female workers said they wanted to take part in consultations on how to deal with sexual abuse and how to prevent violence against women.

At the event, psychosocial experts spoke about gender equality at work, forms of violence against women, and prevention methods.

Experts emphasised the importance of raising public awareness, and strengthening the role of families, schools and the community in fighting social evils to stop violence against women and girls. — VNS