At the group’s debut ceremony in Hanoi on May 18, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, the group was established amid increasing violence against girls and women.

She stressed the vulnerable group needs more access to self-protection and anti-violence services, including legal ones.

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Scene at the debut. Photo: giadinh.net

In addition to its consultation function, the group will join in the organization of relevant forums to share information and put forth suitable measures.

Elisa Fernandez, UN Women Head of Office in Vietnam, said her agency has worked with the VWU for years to eradicate violence targeting against girls and women, which she said is a violation of human’s rights, causing physical and psychological damage.

She praised the union’s initiative and pledged her commitment to bilateral collaboration of the two sides in this regards.  

According to police statistics, there were more than 4,100 child sexual abuse cases recorded for 2014 – 2016, with girls accounting for 80 percent of the victims. The figure was 805 in the first half of 2017.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said up to 70 percent of Vietnamese children were victims of family violence.

Source: VNA