Providing quality social work services
On March 28, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with United Nations agencies in Vietnam including UNICEF (Children's Fund), UNFPA (Population Fund) and UN Women (United Nations Women) to organize a workshop to launch and implement the ASEAN guidelines: Empowering women and children, providing quality social work services to people at risk of or affected by violence.
In her opening speech at the conference, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized the important role of guidance.
According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha, this document aims to support ASEAN member countries to more effectively implement the roadmap of the Hanoi Declaration on promoting social work towards a cohesive and proactively adaptive ASEAN community.
Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha speaks at the workshop (Photo: NH).
The document also strengthens the social work system, contributing to addressing and preventing violence against women and children. This system helps policy makers and relevant agencies to design and deliver quality social work services to people at risk of or affected by violence, especially women and children.
"The guidelines will also serve as a reference for developing laws, policies and tools to provide quality social work services," Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized.
As part of the practical experience sharing program, delegates visited the Sunshine House in Quang Ninh to learn about how social services are provided to protect and meet the needs of people who have experienced violence.
UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam, Mr. Matt Jackson, shared about the United Nations Population Fund’s commitment to supporting Viet Nam in addressing gender-based violence, including the replication of the One-Stop Service Center (also known as Sunshine House) in other provinces and cities. This model has provided very effective services that meet international standards, including health care, counseling, social welfare services, emergency shelter, safety protection, legal and justice services, and referrals.
“By scaling up Sunshine House, UNFPA wants to reach more women and girls who are at risk of or affected by gender-based violence and domestic violence,” added Mr. Matt Jackson. “UNFPA wants to ensure that all women and children in Viet Nam, including the most vulnerable, have the right to live a life free of violence and with dignity.”
Vietnam Action Plan
UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, Ms. Rana Flowers, commented that over the past two decades, UNICEF has supported Vietnam in developing social work.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and with the support of UNICEF, social work service centers and facilities have been established in most provinces and cities across the country.
Staff at these facilities have been trained to provide support and protection services and referrals to thousands of children and women who are victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and other forms of child abuse.
Ms. Rana Flowers congratulated the Government of Vietnam for taking the lead in developing this valuable guide.
UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers speaks (Photo: NH).
During the discussion session on the application of ASEAN guidelines in Vietnam, delegates contributed their opinions to the development of Vietnam’s action plan. This activity is a kick-off for efforts to promote social work, including increasing the number of social workers and ensuring the provision of high-quality social work services.
These goals are determined in accordance with the National Plan for the Development of Social Work in Vietnam for the 2021-2030 period and the National Program on Innovation and Development of the Social Protection System to 2025.
Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha and delegates attending the conference (Photo: NH).
The ASEAN Guidelines launched today will provide an important basis for guiding the design and delivery of quality social work services. The Guidelines recognise the invaluable services that social workers provide to our communities, while supporting the professional development of this important workforce.
“We look forward to the guidance being rolled out over the coming years to improve the delivery of social work services in the region,” said Majdie Horden.
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