Authorities at local level and all sectors of society in Da Nang are joining efforts to end violence against women and children. Hence, the focus has been on promoting gender equality and empowering all women and girls, thereby helping the city yield positive results, and ensuring the effective implementation of the city’s social welfare policy.

A mobile community education campaign is launched in Cam Le District to build awareness and change public attitudes about violence against women and girls. Photo: T.D

Domestic violence is a devastating social problem that impacts every sector of our population. The overwhelming majority of victims are women and children. In its efforts to prevent violence against women and children, Da Nang has implemented many programmes and established clubs to provide timely interventions for the victims and protect women and children from violence. Included were clubs named ‘Men take action to prevent and respond to violence against against women and children’, ‘Happy family’, ‘Domestic violence prevention and control’.

To respond this year’s campaign launched by the Da Nang Women's Union, grassroots member organisations simultaneously set up a club model entiled ‘Orange - Speak Up on Violence’, which had great positive impact on our community and received strong public support from around the city. Especially, Cam Le District took lead in the city for the earliest and most effective implementation of this model with its presence across four wards, namely Hoa An, Hoa Xuan, Hoa Tho Dong and Khue Trung.

Mrs Ngo Thi Thuy Trang, the Chairwoman of the Cam Le District Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union said that a coffee shop has been choosen in each ward and it is a place for holding regular activities for local residents to share their knowledge and skills to prevent domestic violence. In addition, leaflets, books and newspapers reporting on violence against women and children are being displayed at these venues in a bid to raise awareness and call for changes at local level to end violence against them. In particular, such a model has attracted active involvement of a large number of men, thereby contributing to raising community awareness of domestic and family violence, and encouraging everyone to have a part to play in combating domestic violence.

This club model in Cam Le District has gradually become a reliable address for women as it provides solid spiritual support for them.

Mr. Vo Thoi, the Vice Chairman of a club in Hoa Tho Dong Ward said that the club now has 15 members. The club's members have been active in quickly detecting families that experienced domestic violence. Signs of violent behavior were found in some families. Including were parents yelling at their children, drunk husband scolding his wife and children, and couples arguing over money. Timely interventions have been implemented to prevent violence in these families.

Till date, no domestic violence cases have been reported in the ward. The positive results have been attributed to effective implementation of raising public awareness of violence against women and children and early detection of signs of violence in families. In the coming time, the heed will be paid to continue to coordinating with the local Youth Union organistion and encourage young men to join the fight against domestic violence.

For many years, the club named ‘Men take action to prevent and respond to violence against against women and girls’ in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District has been known as the most active and effective model in the city to prevent domestic violence. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 had a great impact on the city’s economy, increasing the risk of family conflicts, mental and physical violence against women and children in this ward.

Therefore, the club’s members actively called for funding to help families in difficult circumstances and those at risk of violence in order to provide timely support and advice to prevent family conflicts. Over the past 3 years, the club has helped many families to effectively resolve their conflicts.

Mrs Hoang Thi Thu Huong, the Chairwoman of the Da Nang Women's Union highlighted huge efforts organisations at all levels in the city have made  in recent years to promote gender equality and empower women as well as support their growth, development and advancement, contributing significantly to improving Viet Nam's gender development index (GDI). Viet Nam ranked 65^th among 162 countries in the world’s GDI and named among the top 5 groups in the world.

To respond this year's national action month on gender equality, the Da Nang Women's Union is calling on individuals, organizations, agencies and all sectors of society in the city to join efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women, and end gender-based violence in order to ensure all women and children in the city are able to live a life free of violence, contributing to building a safe city in line with the direction from the municipal administration.

Reporting by THIEN DUYEN – Translating by H.L