Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs

Participatory poverty monitoring in rural communities in Viet Nam
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Community perceptions of domestic violence have changed. In 2007, people
often thought that domestic violence was a family affair that should be resolved by
families themselves. People now talk about domestic violence more openly, and display
more sympathy for victims of domestic violence. In many places, women report acts of
violence to the village head (Phuoc Dai, Phuoc Thanh-Ninh Thuan, Thuan Hoa-Tra Vinh,
Thuan Hoa-Ha Giang, and Thanh Xuong-Dien Bien) or confide in other women during
Women’s Union’s meetings.
There are many reasons for reduced physical violence. The Women’s Union has
played an important role communicating the importance of the prevention of domestic
violence. Local governments have been increasingly involved in protecting victims of
domestic violence. Phuoc Dai-Ninh Thuan, for example, established a 24-hour police “hot
line” for villagers wishing to report cases of domestic violence. Improved living standards
and women’s increased participation in business are also important factors. Community
institutions have also contributed to reducing domestic violence. In Thuan Hoa-Tra Vinh,
the Women’s Union has incorporated communication on the Law on Gender Equality and
the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control in the meetings of Sang Khum
Association. In Duc Huong-Ha Tinh, communication on the Law on Domestic Violence
Prevention and Control was integrated in meetings of inter-family groups facilitated by
community facilitators. In the inter-family groups, there are regulations on sanctions
against acts of domestic violence. Happy Family Clubs (Duc Huong-Ha Tinh, Thuan Hoa-
Ha Giang, and Cu Hue-Dak Lak) and information points (Thuan Hoa-Tra Vinh) funded by
ActionAid are effectively communicating the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on
Domestic Violence Prevention and Control.
Mental violence is not visible. Training and communication activities have raised
awareness of forms of mental violence among local cadres and residents. However,
women are more reluctant to report their husbands for mental violence. As a result it is
difficult to form a true impression of the incidence of mental violence at the monitoring
points.
Implementation of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control
is limited. In some places interviews revealed commune officials are not aware of
regulations related to domestic violence prevention and control. Communication on the
Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control has targeted women, the primary
victims of domestic violence, but has paid little attention to other high-risk groups such
as people dependent on alcohol drugs, or gambling and engaged couples. Sanctions
against domestic violence are weak at most monitoring points. In most instances police
issue warnings, or encourage “reconciliations”, and fail to take timely “preventive” or
“protective” measures.
Representation and participation in social activities
The proportion of women in politics at commune level has increased slightly in
the last five years. Most lowland and Kinh communes and district centres now have
at least 20% women on commune People’s Councils or at least 15% women on Party
Executive Committees, two key targets of the National Strategy for the Advancement
of Women 2001- 2010. Most mountainous ethnic minority communes have not yet met
these targets. In the 2011-2015 term, the proportion of women members appears set to
increase further, although at a slower and more uneven rate (Table 1.8).