Security error

Sexual violence in conflict becomes more serious in the face of Covid-19. Conflict-related sexual violence became thorny at an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on April 14 as all participants took it a critical opportunity to take stock of the issue in order to eradicate the scourge of it. The open debate, which was hosted by Vietnam, the UNSC President for the month of April, drew attention to the chronic underreporting of wartime sexual violence, especially at a time being compounded by Covid-19 containment measures. The participants thanked Vietnam for keeping this important topic on the agenda of the Council. Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations said the victims should be assisted to access psychological, medical, training and legal services, integrate into the community and seek livelihood sources. He emphasized the need to take a comprehensive approach to the problem, noting the prevention and full and equal participation of women in decision-making and peace processes, much-needed development assistance, capacity-building, technical support and training. Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, stressed the need of prevention, saying that “prevention is the best and only cure” to stem the multiple, devastating and enduring consequences faced by survivors of sexual violence in conflict, especially as a brutal tactic of war. Citing over 2,500 UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 18 countries last year alone, Patten said there was a “chasm between resolutions and reality”. She mentioned the long litany of battles fought on the bodies of women and girls in Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Syria and other places to remind others of what they did to honor their commitments to solving the problem. The Delegation of the EU to UN said they owe this to all victims and …

[Read more...] about Sexual violence in conflict: thorny issue bothers UN Security Council

The C04 and local police also determined 106 major drug trafficking routes, 169 complicated places of drug crimes and 2,000 suspects in the above-mentioned localities. According to Major General Nguyen Van Vien, Head of the Ministry of Public Security's Drug Crime Investigation Department (C04), the traffickers are increasingly sophisticated acts and tricks to camouflage and hide their drugs. They often sign in to social networks for trading so the functional forces are difficult in the detection, arrestment, investigation and handling. Police forces arrest many suspects related to drug trafficking violations. Regarding the fight against drug crimes, Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong, Deputy Minister of Public Security suggested that the functional agencies should further connect with local police forces to get achievements in anti-drug operations. The information was released at a summary conference about the Ministry of Public Security’s anti-drug criminal plan. By Chi Thach- Translated by Huyen Huong …

[Read more...] about Ministry of Public Security detects 1,191 drug-related cases

The number of people killed in traffic accidents on Vietnam’s roads in the first three months of 2021 increased by more than 30 per cent compared to the same period last year. A truck carrying more timber than permitted crashed on March 22, killing all seven people onboard in the central province of Thanh Hoa. — Photo vov.vn A report by the National Committee for Traffic Safety revealed that although the actual number of accidents and injuries fell, more people died. From the beginning of 2021 to the end of March, 1,672 people were killed on the roads compared to 1,489 over the same period last year. March alone was a particularly bad month with 15 people killed in three separate accidents over a 10-day period in the central province of Thanh Hoa and the northern province of Hoa Binh. Khuat Viet Hung, Vice President of the National Committee on Traffic Safety said although there were a number of factors causing accidents, human error was the main reason for the fatality increase. He said people driving under the influence of alcohol and overloaded lorries and coaches contributed to the rise in deaths. Hung said poor road infrastructure was also to blame, with many local roads suffering from poor visibility, especially at night. Roads on mountains were also dangerous for motorists and some road markings were not fitted with anti-glare equipment. And he said some localities had failed in their duties to improve traffic safety. The report found in some cases, trucks were carrying 200 per cent more than the permitted capacity. In one instance, a lorry that crashed in Thanh Hoa on March 22, was only allowed to carry 15 tonnes but was found to be loaded with 27 tonnes of timber. There were also seven people in the lorry that was designed to just take two. All seven people died in the accident. Overloading, according to the report, often occurred in areas close to mining facilities. Solutions Nguyen Van Huyen, Director …

[Read more...] about Increase in road fatalities this year