205 wounds on 7-month pregnant wife, torture not violence

“Stunned” are the two words Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), told VietNamNet reporters about the case of a wife being abused by her husband while she was 7 months pregnant.

When seeing the image of the woman with wounds all over her face and body, Dr. Khuat Thu Hong did not think it was the result of a violent act in 1-2 days but must have been a long process.

The doctor emphasized that this is no longer normal domestic violence. “It is prolonged torture,” Dr. Khuat Thu Hong affirmed.

To determine the cause of the incident, Dr. Hong said that further investigation is needed. But such a long-term torture method usually only occurs in the relationship between a self-proclaimed master and his slave.

*Injuries crisscrossed Ms. Giao's body. Photo: Hoai Thanh*

“Many Vietnamese husbands self-style themselves lords. This is not the only case,” Dr. Khuat Thu Hong assessed.

After many years of participating in the process of promoting gender equality in Vietnam, after this heartbreaking incident, Dr. Khuat Thu Hong once again called on women to know how to protect themselves by speaking up and seeking support to be protected.

Accordingly, from the first time of being abused, it is necessary to react clearly and strongly so that the other person understands that you do not accept or compromise with violence.

“No matter who did wrong (wife or child), violence cannot be used to solve the problem. Sisters, don’t be ashamed, speak up immediately and seek support. You will find it if you seek it – the only thing you are afraid of is not wanting to seek it,” Dr. Khuat Thu Hong advised.

On the other hand, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Universityof Education - VNU, emphasized that there have been many opinions that violence in society will increase after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“If there is a strategy, this situation will be limited and the risk of mental health damage to people that tends to increase after the pandemic will be reduced,” Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam commented.

Returning to the case of Ms. Giao, Associate Professor Dr. Thanh Nam assessed that this was a very heartbreaking incident. He asked the question: Why would a husband abuse his wife, even torture her to the point of being "physically and mentally disabled" like that?

*Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam (Photo: T. N)*

“Is this person affected by addiction, mental health problems, family culture or financial stress leading to insecurity…?

Ms. Giao is not a recent victim of abuse. Why didn't she speak up and report it right away?

Was she worried and afraid of the consequences (fear of being punished more severely if she spoke up)? Was the woman ashamed and afraid of being beaten by her husband, so she endured and kept quiet? Or was she too poor and economically dependent on her husband? Or was it because she lacked information and did not know where to seek support?”, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam asked.

He said that Vietnam has signed many treaties to protect women and girls, the Law on Gender Equality has also been issued. Recently, the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence has also been discussed.

“But it seems that after the Covid-19 pandemic, agencies and organizations protecting children and women are also “paralyzed”.

The proof is that serious incidents like this still happen. Assuming the victim lacks information, or is under house arrest (with her phone taken away, forbidden to go out), she still has family, neighbors, and the local women's association. Why don't they know?", Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam emphasized.

Agreeing with this view, Dr. Khuat Thu Hong also wondered, where were the people around her during the time the woman was being tortured so severely? Did her family, neighbors, friends, and the community where she lived know?

Suspect Tran Van Luan temporarily detained

On May 15, Kim Thanh District Police, Hai Duong Province received a report from Kim Xuyen Commune Police about the case of Ms. Bui Thi Tuyet Giao (36 years old, living in My Lam Commune, Hon Dat District, Kien Giang Province), who was 7 months pregnant and was brutally abused by her husband Tran Van Luan.

Through the verification process, on the afternoon of May 24, the Investigation Agency of Kim Thanh District Police issued a decision to prosecute the criminal case against suspect Tran Van Luan.

At the same time, the investigation agency of Kim Thanh district police also decided to prosecute and temporarily detain Tran Van Luan.

According to the forensic examination results, Ms. Bui Thi Tuyet Giao has a disability rate of 29% with a total of 205 injuries on her body.

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