Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HANOI1438
2009-12-30 09:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Hanoi
Cable title:  

Redefining Domestic Violence in VN by Challenging Accepted

Tags:  PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN VM 
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VZCZCXRO7785
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #1438/01 3640902
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 300901Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0664
INFO ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 0324
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001438 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN VM
SUBJECT: Redefining Domestic Violence in VN by Challenging Accepted
Cultural Norms

REF: 07 HANOI 2011

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 001438

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN VM
SUBJECT: Redefining Domestic Violence in VN by Challenging Accepted
Cultural Norms

REF: 07 HANOI 2011


1. (SBU) Summary: Vietnam's government has taken significant
positive steps in recent years to begin to address domestic
violence. The National Assembly passed a Law on Domestic Violence
in 2007, domestic violence was highlighted for the first time as an
area of concern in Vietnam's most recent five-year socioeconomic
development plan, and government ministries and Party-affiliated
mass organizations have undertaken awareness-raising campaigns
throughout the country. Nevertheless, traditional cultural
perceptions that "domestic violence is a private family matter"
continue to beleaguer these efforts, and the problem remains
endemic. In 2007, media reports stated that a woman dies from
domestic violence every three days in Vietnam. Local NGO's, working
with government/Party authorities and international partners, are
battling cultural prejudices, and we are working to help. Embassy
Hanoi and ConGen HCMC have supported wide ranging outreach efforts
related to domestic violence, including funding a law enforcement
training program and speaking programs. End Summary.



GVN and NGO Actions on Domestic Violence

--------------




2. (SBU) When discussing the passage of the 2007 Law on Domestic
Violence, the female Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Social
Affairs Committee speaks frankly of how difficult it was to
convince even male National Assembly members that domestic violence
should be treated as a crime. Under the law, domestic abuse is
categorized into four groups: physical violence, psychological
abuse, sexual abuse and economic abuse. Definitions of violent
actions, the rights of victims, and penalties for perpetrators are
included in the law. The passage of the Law on Domestic Violence
was the first step in redefining the problem of domestic violence
as a legal issue rather than a private family matter. The law also
required this problem to be addressed from the national level to
the local level by assigning different government agencies specific
roles and responsibilities to ensure the law was implemented
effectively. Though there are lingering concerns that the law is
weighted too heavily toward family reconciliation, even in an
abusive situation, and contains only light administrative

punishments for most situations, NGOs remain supportive of the law
and use it as a basis for many of their anti-domestic violence
campaigns.




3. (SBU) In addition to passing the law, the Government of Vietnam
highlighted domestic violence for the first time as an area of
concern in Vietnam's most recent five-year socioeconomic
development plan (2006-2010),and various government ministries and
Party-affiliated mass organizations have undertaken programs
throughout the country related to the issue. Training for law
enforcement officials focused on defining domestic violence and
developing procedures to handle cases. The Youth Union and Women's
Union have held awareness campaigns, provided safe havens, and
established support clubs for victims throughout the country.




4. (SBU) Government efforts have also received significant support
from NGOs. NGOs have established several networks which meet
frequently to share information, establish best practices and
coordinate their activities and limited resources. These networks
may have as many as 20 member organizations nation-wide, but most
member organizations are relatively small, with limited staffing.
NGOs have also conducted awareness-raising campaigns, established a
domestic violence focused shelter, supported clubs relating to the
issue of domestic violence and worked with the government of
Vietnam in various training and outreach efforts.



Hardline Attitudes Die Hard

--------------




5. (SBU) Despite these many efforts, those working on
anti-domestic violence campaigns find it hard to change culturally
ingrained attitudes toward domestic violence. The Ministry of

HANOI 00001438 002 OF 003


Public Security (MPS) attributes 53% of divorces in Vietnam to
domestic violence. (Comment: This figure, if anything, understates
the problem, since many wives endure domestic violence but stay
married. End comment.) Hoai Duc, Director of the Institute for
Reproductive and Family Health, explained that domestic violence in
Vietnam is traditional, tied to the Confucian values that underlie
social behavior and norms. Women are seen as the possession of
their husbands and have no power in their relationships. Women are
expected to be passive and exhibit traditional qualities of
"womanhood," which includes preserving peace in the home - no
matter the cost. As a result, many women internalize the
experience of domestic violence, seeing it as a manifestation of
their failure to fulfill their duties in the home. Additionally,
in many rural areas, law enforcement officials, commune and
district leaders -- along with the general population -- are still
not aware of the law's existence or are hesitant to enforce it
because they still consider it a family matter.



Embassy Outreach Efforts

--------------




6. (SBU) Education and changing cultural perceptions of domestic
violence as a private family matter have directed many of Mission
Vietnam's activities related to the problem of domestic violence.
The U.S. funded a two-year project by the UN Office of Drug and
Crime (UNODC) to build the capacity of law enforcement and justice
sectors by developing training materials and workshops that would
enhance the capacity of officials to effectively identify and
respond to cases of domestic violence. After the conference,
organizers concluded that national trainers would need to continue
to play a central role, as local trainers still lack adequate
understanding of the law. Moreover, as UNODC project coordinator
Jennie Vittal explained, Vietnam's law on domestic violence does
not accord with prevailing cultural attitudes, and trainers might
have difficulty conveying the message appropriately.




7. (SBU) As part of an initiative to support the International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Embassy Hanoi also
participated in two events. On November 23, the DCM delivered the
keynote speech at the Center for Women and Development's (CWD)
"Workshop for Strengthening the Network for Combating Domestic
Violence and Supporting Victims." Over 100 provincial government
officials and NGO members attended the event. In addition to the
speech, Vietnam's principle television station showed clips of an
interview with the DCM on the issue. The DCM also appeared on a
half-hour feature show on O2 TV discussing domestic violence and
other family-life issues. On November 27, the Embassy hosted a
roundtable discussion on supporting victims of domestic violence,
which featured a ground-breaking mini-series "Breaking the Silence"
produced by the UNODC. Panelists included the film's producer and
cast members, a Fulbright scholar involved in social work in Hanoi,
Vietnamese NGOs concentrating on fighting domestic violence, a
representative from the Ministry of Public Security, and a legal
aid representative. Five print newspapers and two TV stations
covered the event, which was attended by more than 120 university
students.




8. (SBU) Comment: Domestic violence continues to be a serious
issue in Vietnam, with experts pointing to alcoholism, poverty and
lack of legal knowledge as contributory factors. But the root of
domestic abuse continues to be culturally accepted gender
inequality. Acknowledging this as a core issue, most domestic
violence NGO networks have agreed that they need to focus their
outreach efforts on men. It is hoped that by drawing men into
workshops, training and outreach efforts the fundamental issue of
gender equality for women can be addressed and that the
conversation concerning domestic violence can be turned from
"cultural to criminal." As experts have noted, no culture is
monolithic and attitudes in society do change, especially when
there is pressure to do so. Embassy Hanoi continues to work with
various NGOs on the issue of domestic violence and will use the
momentum built from our recent activities to continue to partner
with others on addressing this issue of domestic violence and
ensuring that men are included as a focus group. End comment.

HANOI 00001438 003 OF 003



9. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen HCMC.
Michalak