Deputy Minister of MOLISA Nguyen Trong Dam, representation of KOICA Chang Jac-jun, representation of Gender Equality Department, International Cooperation Department,  Department of Labours – Invalids and Social Affairs Centre of Social work in Quang Ninh province attended the ceremony. Quang Ninh province was chosen to implement this model project.

Deputy Minister of MOLISA Nguyen Trong Dam had speech at the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the beginning of ceremony, Deputy Minister of MOLISA, Mr. Nguyen Trong Dam said that Vietnam government has recently concerned about gender equality and prevention of family violence, specially on women and girls. The government also has made efforts in the policy making progress, developing legal system and setting resources as a priority. During the implementation process, Vietnam always gets help from international organisations, including Korean ones. MOLISA appreciate Korea's support for Vietnam in the fields of vocational training, labor export, labor safety and hygiene ...

Mr. Dam also express his good impression when Korea government really concerns about issues of preventing violence against women and girls in Vietnam. There are so many models and solutions that Vietnam government can learn from Korea. Deputy Minister also believed that with experience and achievements gained in recent years, KOICA would be bridge between Vietnam and Korean, which leads the relationship to a higher level. The Ambassador of Korea said that violence against women and girls used to happen in Korea in the past. This is a social issues which occurs not only in Vietnam and Korea, but also in many different countries in the world. The Korean government has attempted to implement gender equality issues such as the establishment of a Ministry in charge of this issue and is expected to come will establish a Ministry about women.

Representations at the signing ceremony.

Korean Ambassador also frankly admitted that Korea is still behind Vietnam in gender equality issue, because Vietnam has the first woman president in Congress , while the rate of female parliamentarians in Korean is very low. Furthermore, Vietnamese women participate in more social and economical activities than Korean women. Mr Chang also appreciated Vietnamese government in the adoption of Law about Gender equality and the National strategy on gender equaliy. Among foreign labours in Korean, Vietnamese workers are considered as the most effective and active ones.

The model project of preventing violence against women and girls which is supported by KOICA will help Vietnam government to achieve the National strategy equality in the period 2011-2020. This project will be implemented in Quang Ninh province and Hanoi within 3 years (2016-2019). KOICA will give Vietnam government maximum of 2,5 million dollar to develop the model. Moreover, this organisation will also send expert to deploy and manage the project.

Korean Ambassador at the signing ceremony.

Some activities which will be brought to practice include:

_ Establish intervention department at the Center for Social Work in Quang Ninh province to provide crisis intervention services and emergency shelter for victims of gender-based violence, especially victims of violence sexual force. Specifically, KOICA will support the establishment of a center to interfere with the supply and installation of necessary equipment and infrastructure; Upgrade service hotline, through the use of telephone numbers of current hotline (18001769) at the center of Quang Ninh social work; Develop programs and training guidance to staff and personnel who provide services to victims of gender-based violence; Establish a network in the community and develop regulations to respond to gender-based violence in Quang Ninh province; Perform active advocacy intervention centers; Recruit at least four (04) local staff working at the Centre to intervene; Hire local experts to provide the necessary services including medical, psychological, legal and police.

The representations of Korea and Vietnam signed the record of discussions.

-Construct overall plan to develop models and support victims in Quang Ninh.

- Organize training in Korea and in Vietnam for Vietnam government employees, professionals and service providers on the prevention of violence against women and girls, in order to improve the capacity, share technical knowledge and the experience of Korea related to the project.

- Communicate to raise awareness on the prevention of gender-based violence in the area. South Korea will send experts to Vietnam to implement and manage the project.

Hong Phuong.

Translated into English by Minh Ngoc.