VZCZCXRO7157
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0287/01 0450958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140958Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4617
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2544
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000287 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM PREF KWMN PGOV SOCI VM
SUBJECT: A/S SAUERBREY DISCUSSES POPULATION, SOCIAL ISSUES AND TIP 
 
 
HANOI 00000287  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) On February 5, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees 
and Migration (PRM) Ellen Sauerbrey met separately with the GVN's 
Commission for Population, Family and Children and the National 
Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs.  Commission Vice-Chairman 
Nguyen Ba Thuy discussed Vietnam's "two-child policy," affirming the 
practice of non-coercive methods.  The Assistant Secretary raised 
the issue of sex-selective abortions in Vietnam and discussed the 
GVN's current solutions for addressing a growing sex ratio imbalance 
in Vietnam.  She also expressed concern over access to education for 
children in the Central Highlands and discussed the GVN's 
development of a legal framework for adoptions and foster care. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu, Chair of the Committee for Social 
Affairs, briefed the Assistant Secretary on Vietnam's latest efforts 
to fight trafficking in persons (TIP) and domestic violence and 
build greater gender equality in Vietnam.  Thu conceded that the GVN 
needed to do more on the demand side of the TIP issue, namely by 
incorporating the prosecution of men who patronize prostitutes into 
anti-TIP strategies.  Thu said Vietnam had faced "difficulties" 
providing training on domestic violence for police and housing 
options for abused wives.  The Chairwoman pointed to Vietnam's 
recently passed gender equality law as evidence that the country had 
moved forward on this issue, but admitted much work remained to be 
done to change long-held attitudes.  End Summary. 
 
Two-Child Policy:  Recommendation, not Coercion 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3. (SBU) During her meeting with Commission for Population, Family 
and Children (CPFC) Vice Chairman Nguyen Ba Thuy, Assistant 
Secretary Sauerbrey, accompanied by the DCM, asked for an 
 
SIPDIS 
elaboration of the GVN's two-child policy.  The Vice Chairman 
explained that this policy is not compulsory, as much as it is 
government advice and recommendation.  There is "no coercion" behind 
the policy; rather, the government "recommends" that all Vietnamese 
families limit themselves to two children, with the government 
offering family planning services to those that request it.  The GVN 
relies on voluntary adherence and encourages its practice. 
GVN-sponsored programs today offer a wide range of contraceptive 
options, family planning services and general health and 
gynecological screenings.  The GVN's "two-child recommendation" and 
"its voluntary adherence" are especially encouraged in rural areas, 
the Vice Chairman explained. 
 
Party Members that Violate Policy Risk "Bad Standing" 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Adherence to the two-child policy is "very much expected" 
of Communist Party members, as Party members accept Party discipline 
upon entry and should "set a good example for others," the Vice 
Chairman continued.  Party members that exceed two children are not 
levied fines, but rather are "placed in bad standing."  (Note:  Post 
has heard, anecdotally, of instances of denial of promotions, for 
those in the public sector, which effectively act as financial 
penalties.  End note.)  Additionally, Party members who do not want 
to abide by Party rules can leave the Party.  Assistant Secretary 
Sauerbrey commended Vietnam for using education rather than 
"coercion" and allowing families to plan their families "normally. 
 
Total Fertility Rate has Dropped Significantly 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (SBU) In 1975, Vietnam's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was 5.3 
children per woman, whereas, recent 2006 statistics now document the 
TFR at 2.09, or approximately at population replacement level 
Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey observed.  The average age of marriage 
in Vietnam is approximately 24 years for a woman and 26 for a man. 
 
No Discrimination Against Ethnic Communities 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In terms of ethnic minority communities, the Vice Chairman 
stated adamantly that their policies do not discriminate against 
ethnic minorities nor attempt to limit the population growth of 
ethnic minorities, despite their strong tendency to want larger 
families.  Ethnic minorities have different pressures, including the 
need for manual labor to tend farms.  "For smaller ethnic minority 
groups, we do not force them to have fewer children, and for larger 
ethnic minority groups, our focus is on good healthcare rather than 
family planning," the Vice Chairman said. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The CPFC representatives admitted that getting many of 
these communities to accept GVN-provided family planning services is 
"often difficult."  For example, most ethnic minority women will not 
use IUD contraceptives; however, they will use birth control pills 
or injectable options.  The GVN tries to find the best and most 
 
HANOI 00000287  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
appropriate services to assist these communities in planning and 
supporting their families, they explained. 
 
Sex Selective Abortion Against the Law, but Still Occurs 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Turning to abortion in Vietnam, the CPFC officials made 
clear that the GVN has "never considered" abortion as a form of 
family planning.  Vice-Chairman Thuy said that there are many 
reasons for abortions in Vietnam, including the failure of family 
planning.  In addition, Vietnam is a "Confucian" culture and, as 
such, abortion is "psychologically difficult" for many Vietnamese 
women.  Sex-selective abortion is against the law in Vietnam as are 
"all methods of sex selection."  Nevertheless, many Vietnamese use 
"natural ways" of selecting sex, the Vice Chairman said. 
 
¶9. (SBU) "Some" sex-selective abortions are taking place in Vietnam, 
especially in the countryside, but the CPFC does not have a handle 
on the extent, the officials said.  The Commission will complete a 
nationwide survey later this year on this practice, and it is 
working with the World Bank on instituting a relevant monitoring 
system. 
 
"We Won't Make the Same Mistake as China" 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) In terms of sex ratios, the CPFC officials admitted that 
Vietnam's sex ratio imbalance has recently increased to a 
"high-normal" level of 107 boys to 100 girls, based on the "normal 
range" of 102-107 reportedly used by the World Bank.  The GVN noted 
that China's sex ratios are "very distorted" as a result of a lack 
of planning and late solutions.  China "made a mistake" by not 
taking action when their ratio "hit 109," but the GVN would not make 
the same "mistake."  The GVN is currently working with the 
governments of China and India on this issue, including holding 
joint conferences and establishing international working groups, the 
Vice Chairman said. 
 
Ethnic Minority Education in the Central Highlands 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey expressed concern about the 
many young children she saw out of school during her February 1-2 
visit to the Central Highlands.  The Commission officials responded 
that primary education, starting at age six, was "universalized" in 
Vietnam in 2005.  However, ethnic minority communities face unique 
challenges such as mountainous geography and lack of transportation, 
which can hinder children in those communities attending school. 
Secondary school books and materials also cost money.  The GVN takes 
these problems seriously, and it has established and funded a 
special program to facilitate the construction of schools and the 
provision of transportation in the Central Highlands.  This GVN 
program has only recently swung into high gear, the CPFC officials 
explained. 
 
Adoptions and Foster Care 
------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) The GVN has a legal framework for adoptions and regulatory 
agreements are in place with many third countries, the Vice Chairman 
continued.  The GVN does not have a legal framework for foster care, 
although it would like to develop one.  Native adoptions are given 
first priority, and foreign adoptions have secondary priority.  In 
the case of orphans, the CPFC officials explained that, in 
Vietnamese culture, orphans are typically raised by relatives and 
GVN-provided financial assistance is made available.  The GVN will 
find foster families if relatives are not available or capable. 
Assistant Secretary Sauerbrey noted that perhaps the GVN could learn 
from the experience and laws of the USG and individual states as it 
develops a legal framework for foster care in Vietnam -- a comment 
warmly received by the CPFC officials present. 
 
GVN National Assembly Faces Challenges with TIP 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) Separately on February 5, Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu, Chair of 
the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs, briefed the 
Assistant Secretary on Vietnam's efforts to combat TIP and domestic 
violence and build greater gender equality.  Thu said that Vietnam 
had traditionally fought TIP, a "big problem" here, by sharing 
experiences with other governments and improving educational and 
employment opportunities for women who are vulnerable to 
trafficking.  She pointed to Vietnam's 2003 Ordinance on the 
Prevention of Prostitution (Vietnam does not have a trafficking in 
persons law) as proof positive that the GVN has taken strides to 
address the TIP problem. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Thu conceded, however, that the GVN has not done enough on 
the demand side of the TIP problem, namely prosecuting men who 
 
HANOI 00000287  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
patronize prostitutes.  "We need to include prosecuting men who 
visit prostitutes into our thinking on combating trafficking," she 
stated.  Thu reacted positively to A/S Sauerbrey's suggestion that 
Vietnam examine Sweden's laws (that address the demand side of the 
prostitution problem) and an explanation of U.S. efforts to 
prosecute those involved in TIP and aid TIP victims.  The GVN needs 
to further study U.S. efforts against TIP, Thu added. 
 
¶15. (SBU) A/S Sauerbrey conveyed her gratitude to the GVN for 
letting her delegation visit the Central Highlands and appealed for 
Hanoi to allow even greater access to the area so that the "we can 
get the full picture of the issues people are facing there."  The 
Assistant Secretary said the GVN needs to do more to meet basic 
educational needs in the Central Highlands.  The GVN realizes that 
poverty is linked to the TIP problem, has made nine years of 
schooling compulsory and provides free education and housing for 
ethnic minority children in the Central Highlands, Thu responded. 
 
Combating Domestic Violence 
--------------------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) Thu said men traditionally have had more rights than women 
in domestic violence situations because Vietnamese have viewed the 
former as "more important."  However, the draft law on domestic 
violence, drafted by Thu's committee, gives female spouses (as well 
as children and grandchildren) a means by which to seek redress and 
enshrines certain basic rights.  Thu admitted, though, that Vietnam 
has faced "difficulty" providing housing options for abused wives. 
"When a husband is abusive, it is the wife who has to leave the 
home.  It should be the other way around," Thu stated. 
 
¶17. (SBU) Thu said her committee should study the U.S. system of 
shelters for abused women, as well as training on how to deal with 
domestic violence for law enforcement.  Currently, it is 
"impossible" for Vietnamese police to get involved when reports of 
domestic violence surface, Thu stated. 
 
Building Gender Equality 
------------------------ 
 
¶18. (SBU) Thu said the recently passed law on gender equality, 
authored by the Women's Union and reviewed by the Committee on 
Social Affairs, "equalizes women with men."  The law enshrines basic 
rights for women in the areas of health care, employment and 
education.  A/S Sauerbrey commended Vietnam for the passage of this 
law. 
 
¶19. (U) A/S Sauerbrey has cleared this message. 
 
ALOISI