Grace Lewis - AsiaLIFE Magazine

Keeping silent is dying:
Talking about domestic violence in Vietnam
Text by Beth Young and Brett Davis. Photos by Fred Wissink.
“I think women who suffered from
violence should raise their voice
and ask for help or counselling.
It can vary case by case, but we
should not keep silent. Keeping
silent is dying.”
This from a Hanoi woman interviewed as
part of last year’s National Study on Domestic
Violence Against Women in Vietnam. One
in three women reported they had suffered
physical or sexual violence at the hands of
their husband some time in their life. This
number rose to 58 percent when taking into
account psychological abuse.
The research team interviewed almost
5,000 women between 18 and 60 years of
age. The study was conducted by Vietnam's
General Statistics Office and the World Health
Organisation.
WHO Health System Team Leader Dr
Graham Harrison said Vietnam was not alone
amongst nations grappling with the issue of
domestic violence.
"While there are cultural elements that
make addressing the issue a challenge, steps
are being taken.
“Domestic violence is a problem but it is
basically a silent problem. Because of community
attitudes it can be difficult for victims to
speak up or get the help they need,” he said.
Harrison said the survey would help formally
address the issue of domestic violence,
raise awareness in the public consciousness
and determine what services were needed.
“A lot of the women interviewed provided
an opening, some light, into a hidden aspect
of their lives. Often they had never spoken of
these things before they were interviewed.”
In the north much is being done to raise
awareness of domestic violence. For example,
in Ninh Binh Province the Swiss Cooperation
Office is working with the local People’s Committee
and Women’s Union to conduct focus
groups with both victims and their abusers.
The goal is to facilitate discussion about
the root cause of the violence and to educate
both men and women on what their rights
are. The first phase began in 2003, and the
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