Delegates attending the 9th White Ribbon Breakfast Event

    The event was organised by the Center for Women and Development (Women’s Union Vietnam) in collaboration with the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality, the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Drug and Crime Prevention Agency of Vietnam. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) together with the European Union in Vietnam were co-organizers.

   The event aimed to raise awareness and gender sensitivity for litigation-conducting agencies and stakeholders when conducting proceedings in criminal cases and civil cases involving women and children.

 This practical activity was part of the Global Campaign for the National Action Month for Gender Equality, Preventing and Responding to Gender Based Violence in Vietnam (November 15th-December 15th) 2023, and the Global Campaign for 16 Days of Action to End Violence against Women and Girls (November 25th-December 10th) 2023.

   The White Ribbon Breakfast attracted more than 120 delegates of investigators, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, experts and gender equality activists from several ministries, People’s Court, Bar Federation and various social organisations.

   At the event, Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe, Acting Chief Representative of UN Women in Vietnam, emphasised: “Violence against women and children hinders the implementation of human rights and erodes achievements in sustainable development.”.

    A study conducted in 2017 by UN Women and the Ministry of Justice pointed out a series of reasons why victims tend to not report incidents to the police nor to seek legal assistance.

    Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe said “Criminal justice agencies need to increasingly address barriers for victims such as lack of privacy, concerns about safety for themselves and their families, and complicated procedures…”.

Guests shared gender-sensitive topics in investigating and resolving cases of violence against women and girls

Ms. Nguyễn Nguyệt Minh, in charge of UNODC in Vietnam accentuated: “The White Ribbon Breakfast event with the theme ‘Gender sensitivity in investigating and resolving cases of violence against women and girls’ plays a very important role in enhancing gender sensitivity in legal proceedings in the future of Vietnam. This event also shows the central role of investigators, prosecutors, and those conducting proceedings in general, when fighting for gender equality and eliminating gender-based violence in Vietnam.”.

“Police officers and investigators are often the first to receive and handle cases of violence against women and children. They are required to resolve related cases quickly, in accordance with regulations, to best protect women and children. In addition, they need to have gender awareness, gender sensibility and gender responsibility to contribute to eliminating gender stereotypes that negatively impact women and children” continued Nguyễn Nguyệt Minh.

At the event, through situation plays improvised and performed by officers of the proceedings agency, participants had the opportunity to discuss important topics including gender sensitivity, gender bias, gender equality, gender-based violence prevention in investigation and prosecution activities. The situation plays also offered valuable lessons and experiences that can be applied in investigation activities for agencies and stakeholders who conduct proceedings, to ensure gender sensitivity.

Delegates expressed their commitment to implementing gender sensitivity in investigating and resolving cases of violence against women and girls