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 
 
¶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