Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Participa<strong>to</strong>ry poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
46<br />
Community perceptions of domestic violence have changed. In 2007, people<br />
often thought that domestic violence was a family affair that should be resolved by<br />
families themselves. People now talk about domestic violence more openly, and display<br />
more sympathy for victims of domestic violence. In many places, women report acts of<br />
violence <strong>to</strong> the village head (Phuoc Dai, Phuoc Thanh-N<strong>in</strong>h Thuan, Thuan Hoa-Tra V<strong>in</strong>h,<br />
Thuan Hoa-Ha Giang, and Thanh Xuong-Dien Bien) or confide <strong>in</strong> other women dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Women’s Union’s meet<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />
There are many reasons for reduced physical violence. The Women’s Union has<br />
played an important role communicat<strong>in</strong>g the importance of the prevention of domestic<br />
violence. Local governments have been <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> protect<strong>in</strong>g victims of<br />
domestic violence. Phuoc Dai-N<strong>in</strong>h Thuan, for example, established a 24-hour police “hot<br />
l<strong>in</strong>e” for villagers wish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> report cases of domestic violence. Improved liv<strong>in</strong>g standards<br />
and women’s <strong>in</strong>creased participation <strong>in</strong> bus<strong>in</strong>ess are also important fac<strong>to</strong>rs. Community<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitutions have also contributed <strong>to</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g domestic violence. In Thuan Hoa-Tra V<strong>in</strong>h,<br />
the Women’s Union has <strong>in</strong>corporated communication on the Law on Gender Equality and<br />
the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control <strong>in</strong> the meet<strong>in</strong>gs of Sang Khum<br />
Association. In Duc Huong-Ha T<strong>in</strong>h, communication on the Law on Domestic Violence<br />
Prevention and Control was <strong>in</strong>tegrated <strong>in</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs of <strong>in</strong>ter-family groups facilitated by<br />
community facilita<strong>to</strong>rs. In the <strong>in</strong>ter-family groups, there are regulations on sanctions<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st acts of domestic violence. Happy Family Clubs (Duc Huong-Ha T<strong>in</strong>h, Thuan Hoa-<br />
Ha Giang, and Cu Hue-Dak Lak) and <strong>in</strong>formation po<strong>in</strong>ts (Thuan Hoa-Tra V<strong>in</strong>h) funded by<br />
ActionAid are effectively communicat<strong>in</strong>g the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on<br />
Domestic Violence Prevention and Control.<br />
Mental violence is not visible. Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and communication activities have raised<br />
awareness of forms of mental violence among local cadres and residents. However,<br />
women are more reluctant <strong>to</strong> report their husbands for mental violence. As a result it is<br />
difficult <strong>to</strong> form a true impression of the <strong>in</strong>cidence of mental violence at the moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />
Implementation of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control<br />
is limited. In some places <strong>in</strong>terviews revealed commune officials are not aware of<br />
regulations related <strong>to</strong> domestic violence prevention and control. Communication on the<br />
Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control has targeted women, the primary<br />
victims of domestic violence, but has paid little attention <strong>to</strong> other high-risk groups such<br />
as people dependent on alcohol drugs, or gambl<strong>in</strong>g and engaged couples. Sanctions<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st domestic violence are weak at most moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts. In most <strong>in</strong>stances police<br />
issue warn<strong>in</strong>gs, or encourage “reconciliations”, and fail <strong>to</strong> take timely “preventive” or<br />
“protective” measures.<br />
Representation and participation <strong>in</strong> social activities<br />
The proportion of women <strong>in</strong> politics at commune level has <strong>in</strong>creased slightly <strong>in</strong><br />
the last five years. Most lowland and K<strong>in</strong>h communes and district centres now have<br />
at least 20% women on commune People’s Councils or at least 15% women on Party<br />
Executive Committees, two key targets of the National Strategy for the Advancement<br />
of Women 2001- 2010. Most mounta<strong>in</strong>ous ethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority communes have not yet met<br />
these targets. In the 2011-2015 term, the proportion of women members appears set <strong>to</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>crease further, although at a slower and more uneven rate (Table 1.8).