On November 24, the "White Ribbon Breakfast - Men pioneering in preventing and responding to violence against women and children in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic" was held by the Ho Chi Minh City authorities with support from the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The event aimed to promote the participation of men and the community in raising public awareness about the prevention and reduction of acts of violence, abuse and sexual harassment against women and children, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also a response activity to Vietnam’s “Month of action for gender equality and prevention and control of gender-based violence" and the UN’s initiative "16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence”.
Speaking at the event, Mai Thi Hong Hoa, Vice Chairman of the District 1 People's Committee cum Head of the Division for the Advancement of Women and Gender Equality of Ho Chi Minh City, said that safety for women and girls in both private and public spaces is one of the most important goals in order to successfully achieve sustainable socio-economic development.
During social distancing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city directed its relevant sectors to implement measures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence. Photos of doctors, armed forces soldiers, flight crew members, drivers of vehicles carrying people and objects, and service providers at hotlines, shelters and legal aid centres, as well as memberships of relevant unions and volunteers on the front line against the epidemic are valuable images not only in terms of communication but also have practical significance, showing both men and women are an important part in a safe and friendly city for women and children, Hoa affirmed.
Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Chief Representative of UN Women in Vietnam, emphasised the importance of men in the prevention of and response to violence against women and children, saying that men are important actors for ending violence against women and children.
Media campaigns should focus on standards of positive masculinity such as sharing housework, caring for children and building respectful, loving, non-violent relations, thus helping to address the root of violence and changing gender stereotypes that have been deeply entrenched for generations, the UN official said.
Nguyen Nguyet Minh, in charge of the UNODC in Vietnam, added that men, especially those working in law enforcement and judicial agencies, must act as safety guards and ensure justice for victims of violence, thereby playing an extremely important role in building a society that says no to gender violence.
At the event, delegates discussed supporting and ensuring safety for women and children during social distancing. Participants also outlined some lessons learned and suggested improving essential services to support women and children who have been victims of violence, especially during crisis situations such as COVID-19, with strong coordination among related services including health, law enforcement, justice, and social work.
