NGOs, Vietnam Women's Union Address Domestic Violence

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000750 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWMN PGOV VM SUBJECT: NGOs, Vietnam Women's Union Address Domestic Violence Prevention REF: A) 07 HANOI 2011, B) HANOI 0749 HANOI 00000750 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: During her June 9-11 visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Andrea Bottner, Senior Coordinator, Office of International Women's Issues, participated in roundtable discussions with the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) and local and international NGOs, visited to two women's shelters hotlines for domestic violence and human trafficking victims. Vietnamese interlocutors provided extensive background about the challenges of addressing domestic violence in Vietnam, including the need for shelters for victims and lack of public awareness. End Summary. VWU Domestic Violence Shelter -------------- ¶2. (U) The VWU and the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Hanoi conducted a lively discussion on the need for an effective shelter system in Vietnam, as well as the need for trained social workers to provide counseling and other services. Ms. Bottner shared the U.S. experience with shelters, noting that these facilities began as emergency services for women in crisis, but now offer an expanded array of services based on the needs of the victims, including health, counseling, legal aid, and employment services. Today, U.S. shelters are striving to reach isolated communities and improve service delivery to underserved populations. ¶3. (U) Ms. Le Thi Thuy, Director of the Center for Women and Development (CWD),a sub-organization of the VWU, explained that Vietnam has one pilot shelter in Hanoi - the "Peace House Project." Peace House has served forty women and children since it first opened in March 2007 and is an early first step in building a system of shelters to provide counseling and assistance to victims of domestic violence. The Peace House slogan, "You are not alone, we are beside you," is aimed at encouraging women to have the self-confidence to come forward and seek help when they are being abused. ¶4. (U) Along with providing free accommodation, access to health care, legal aid, and group activities for victims of domestic violence, the project also provides counseling services and information on the prevention of domestic violence, drug use, human trafficking, and HIV/AIDS. Peace House residents may choose to work at the CWD guest house so that they can begin to earn their own ;money. Ms. Thuy cited good coordination with the local hospital and local lawyers, but emphasized that the project is still sensitive and not publicly known. While access is usually only provided to donors, Ms. Bottner's group toured the facility and spoke with its staff and several residents. ¶5. (U) Ms. Bottner praised these efforts, highlighting that Vietnam has taken an important first step in providing what women in abusive situations need - a safe place to go. To the great interest of the VWU, Ms. Bottner provided a detailed explanation of the Family Justice Center (FJC) model in the U.S., explaining that an FJC strives to provide all services a victim might need under one roof, including to those women who may not be ready to leave an abusive situation and enter a shelter. Given the cultural importance of family unity, the VWU suggested this model may work well in addressing the needs of domestic violence victims who may not be prepared leave an abusive partner for fear of shaming their family or community. ¶6. (U) Ms. Green, a member of Ms. Bottner's party, explained that Second Chance Employment Services (SCES),the U.S.-based NGO she leads, seeks to provide services for victims who have moved beyond the crisis stage by working with businesses and service providers in the community. The VWU Family Department showed particular interest in SCES's ability to provide services free of charge (providers work pro bono). Ms. Green clarified that SCES is mostly privately funded, but has received USG grant money. She also explained that SCES's strong working relationship with law enforcement is a key part of its enduring success. Engagement with the DV Prevention Network -------------- ¶7. (U) In an animated roundtable discussion hosted by the Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender-Family-Women and Adolescents (CSAGA),Ms. Bottner and members Domestic Violence Prevention Network in Vietnam (DOVIPNET) shared experiences and highlighted ongoing challenges in combating domestic violence. ¶8. (U) Background note: CSAGA is a Vietnamese NGO whose mission is to increase awareness and resolve problems related to gender, family, women and adolescents by reaching out through counseling, communication and training. DOVIPNET, established on October 27, 2007 (largely due to the efforts of CSAGA's director, Ms. Nguyen Van HANOI 00000750 002.2 OF 003 Anh),is a network of individuals, domestic and international NGOs, and foreign donors, who share experiences and initiatives and work together on domestic violence issues. End background note. ¶9. (U) The group discussion initially focused on public awareness, education, and training. A Project Officer from a local NGO, Consultation of Investment in Health Promotion, Ms. Quang Thu Trang, discussed a project in Vietnam's Central highlands, noting their efforts to convince local authorities that domestic violence is not a one family problem but an issue for the whole community. Success in changing attitudes is one of the main factors in evaluating the success of their projects. ¶10. (U) ActionAid, an international NGO, conducts training for the VWU at local levels and local public awareness campaigns. Ms. Tran Tu Hang, ActionAid Project Officer, highlighted one project wherein the entire community participated in a creative writing campaign on the theme of domestic violence. Ms. Van Anh also noted CSAGA's work to improve mass media coverage of the issue, including trying to educate and train reporters on domestic violence. ¶11. (U) Ms. To Thi Bay, Program Officer with the Mennonite Central Committee, commented that NGO efforts are vital as the GVN often focuses training efforts on mediation and resolution in an attempt to keep families together. Ms. Bay criticized this approach, noting that women facing violence need to leave abusive situations first and consider reconciliation attempts after they are safe. The Institute for Social Development Studies representative, Dr. Khuat Tu Hong, agreed, stating that the goal is a safe family, not just keeping a family together. She added her criticism of the reconciliation committees, noting that they sometimes encourage women to stay in abusive situations in order to keep families together. The community leaders want harmonious families in order to keep the peace in the community. "Civil society must be engaged," stated Dr. Hong, "women have been waiting too long for the government to do something about this problem." ¶12. (U) Many participants agreed on the need to provide women a safe environment, even in the absence of a shelter system. ActionAid, for example, set up clubs for women to share their experiences and support each other. Several participants also have similar projects in rural communities and underscored the importance of establishing groups that meet regularly to allow victims sufficient time to become confident enough to speak out. (Note: Following the discussion, Ms. Bottner's group toured the CSAGA hotline facility, chatting to volunteers manning the phones. The crisis hotline was established in 1997 and now has two numbers - one for domestic violence victims and one for trafficking victims. End note.) ¶13. (SBU) In HCMC, conflicting opinions regarding cultural attitudes and family reconciliation were themes in discussions with NGOs. A HCMC Women's Union official noted that part of their efforts to prevent domestic violence included classes on beauty and cooking to "help wives make husbands happier." Several NGOs representatives emphasized that reconciliation should be the primary goal when dealing with cases of domestic violence. While admitting that this complicated the development of a formal shelter system to support victims of domestic violence who may need to leave their home, several NGO representatives explained that there is a network of "Reliable Addresses," where a victim can go to the home of a community leader, who will help with the reconciliation process, or call in the authorities as warranted (ref B). Others advocated for services based on victims needs, including shelters or employment services, even if it meant the couples would not be reconciled. A number of NGO leaders agreed with the view of some GVN officials that domestic violence could be the result of external factors, like poverty, economic changes, alcoholism and conflicts with in-laws, rather than recognizing the behavioral issues and putting the appropriate blame on the abuser. While attitudes are still evolving, all of the HCMC NGO representatives present voiced a strong commitment to combat domestic violence and raise public awareness. Comment -------------- ¶14. (SBU) Local and international NGOs are clearly rising to the challenge of domestic violence prevention and in some cases, leading the charge. However, entrenched cultural attitudes, the low level of public awareness, challenges associated with coordination between the the GVN and NGOs, donors, health care professionals, and other service providers, a lack of resources, and the need for trained social workers and counselors to build and maintain a viable shelter system in Vietnam mean that advocacy organizations still have their work cut out for them. Implementing the DV law will require the active engagement of NGOs, the Vietnam Women's Union and others in the advocacy community to effectively combat domestic violence over the long term. Key NGOs understand the complexity of the problem HANOI 00000750 003.2 OF 003 sufficiently to educate those driving the legal implementation process forward. The high level of engagement and interest from the Vietnam Women's Union and the Center for Women and Development also bodes well for greater progress on this issue. Ms. Bottner's visit highlighted the importance to the U.S. of combating domestic violence and lent significant credibility to those organizations at the forefront of the issue. End comment. ¶15. (U) This cable was jointly prepared with ConGen Ho Chi Minh City and cleared by G/IWI. ALOISI