More service centres set up to support survivors of domestic violence

HCM CITY — Two more One Stop Service Centres (OSSCs) on Tuesday were officially launched in HCM City and Đà Nẵng City to provide integrated and essential services supporting survivors of gender-based and domestic violence.

With financial contribution from the Government of Japan, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Việt Nam contracted the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender – Family – Women and Adolescents (CSAGA) to establish the OSSCs called "Ánh Dương (Sunshine) House", to detect and prevent violence and support survivors via the hotline 02433335599 operating 24 hours a day.

The OSSC model provides essential, comprehensive and integrated services to women and girls who are experiencing or are at risk of gender-based and domestic violence.

It provides a wide range of services, meeting international standards, including health care, psychological support, counselling, social welfare services, emergency shelters, police protection, legal and justice services and referrals.

All services are based on the survivor-centred principle, in which survivors are treated with respect and dignity, and assured of privacy and confidentiality.

The findings of the UNFPA-supported National Study on Violence against Women in Việt Nam in 2019 showed nearly 2 in 3 women (62.9 per cent) experienced at least one form of physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence and controlling behaviours by their husband in their lifetime.

And half of the women who experienced physical and or sexual violence by a husband or partner have told no one about it, and most of the women (90.4 per cent) experiencing violence did not seek any help.

Therefore, violence against women is very much hidden in Vietnamese society.

Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Việt Nam, said UNFPA and CSAGA want to promote women's rights and gender equality and support vulnerable groups, particularly survivors of gender-based and domestic violence.

"We want to ensure that all women and girls in Việt Nam, including those most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free of violence and with dignity," she said.

By funding the establishment of three centres in Thanh Hóa, Đà Năng and HCM City, the Government of Japan was pleased to have been able to contribute to mitigating the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Việt Nam, making sure that everyone is part of the country's sustainable development process, said Minister Okabe from the Embassy of Japan to Việt Nam.

"UNFPA's decision to collaborate with both the Ministry and a non-governmental organisation is very innovative as it diversifies the way to reach survivors of gender-based violence, providing them with integrated services," he said.

CSAGA's director Nguyễn Vân Anh said CSAGA was experienced in supporting survivors of gender-based violence through the operation of hotlines and shelters for survivors of violence.

"With support from UNFPA, we are ready to provide integrated services to meet the needs of any survivors of violence, especially women and girls. We will work harder to ensure the rights of women and leave no woman behind," she said.

The first OSSC model was opened in Quảng Ninh Province in April 2020 by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) with technical and financial support from UNFPA in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Earlier this year, MOLISA opened one in Thanh Hóa Province with support from UNFPA in partnership with the Government of Japan.

The two centres have so far accommodated more than 450 women and children who are survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. Each centre receives more than 1,000 calls a month via the hotlines.

The two new OSSCs in HCM City and Đà Nẵng are an attempt to try out a new model by CSAGA, while the earlier two are based on the social protection centres under MOLISA.

Those who are from other neighbouring provinces and cities can also receive services from the centres. — VNS