Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh works with the Australian Ambassador on Gender Equality

Expressing his joy and deep gratitude when Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality and her delegation visited and worked with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh introduced the organizational structure, functions, tasks and outstanding activities of the Vietnam Farmers' Union.

Vice President Nguyen Xuan Dinh said: Currently, the Vietnam Farmers' Union has over 10 million members. The Vietnam Farmers' Union is organized at 4 levels, namely, central, provincial, district and communal levels. Below the communal level, there will be branches and associations of farmers. Branches are organized according to residential areas and professional associations to gather farmers who work together in the same industry and field.

Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh had a meeting and worked with the Australian Embassy delegation led by Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality.

The Vietnam Farmers' Union identifies three key tasks. The first is to protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of farmers. The second is to organize consulting, support, service and vocational training activities to help farmers develop production and business, increase income and living standards. The third is to build and develop a collective economic model in agriculture and rural areas.

Vice President Nguyen Xuan Dinh highly appreciated the cooperation and support of the Australian Government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) over the past years. Accordingly, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported the Vietnam Farmers' Association in carrying out various activities within the framework of the Australian-funded Project. The two sides have had many effective projects such as: Deploying and operating a free hotline for counseling and support for women and girls who are victims of violence via hotline 18001768; supporting the pilot construction of the Responsible Fathers model/Club; supporting the establishment and operation of a model for supporting and counseling men.

Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh presented a souvenir to Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality.

"The Vietnam Farmers' Union would like to sincerely thank and appreciate the partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Australian Government and donors who have joined hands with the Vietnam Farmers' Union to contribute to eliminating gender-based violence against women and girls in Vietnam.

In the coming time, the Vietnam Farmers' Union hopes to continue to receive support and strengthen cooperation with international organizations. The Vietnam Farmers' Union believes that, with inter-sectoral and multi-organizational coordination, with technical and financial support from the United Nations Population Fund, the Australian Government and donors, the Project "Prevention, control and response to gender-based violence and other harmful practices for the period 2022 - 2026" will operate effectively, meeting the needs of support, protecting the safety of women and children as well as raising awareness and changing gender stereotypes of men in Vietnam" - Vice President Nguyen Xuan Dinh emphasized.

Speaking at the reception, Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality expressed her gratitude to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union for welcoming the Delegation.

Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell also appreciated the role of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union in implementing the program of coordinating gender equality and preventing and combating domestic violence, promoting gender equality, thereby helping people in rural areas, especially women and girls.

Vice President of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Ms. Stephanie Copus Campbell - Australian Ambassador for Gender Equality and the delegation took a souvenir photo at the working session.

Reporting on the recent coordinated activities to enhance access to information and support services for female members and farmers who are victims of domestic violence in rural areas of Vietnam, Ms. Leu Thi Minh Hue - Deputy Head of the Social Department of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union said: Over the years, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported the Vietnam Farmers' Union to carry out various activities within the framework of the Australian-funded Project.

Specifically: The free hotline for advice and support for women and girls who are victims of violence 18001768 has been operating from November 20, 2021 to the end of April 2024. The hotline has received 16,487 calls to support 2,228 women and girls who are victims of domestic violence, including 73 people with disabilities. 231 cases were transferred to Anh Duong houses and other temporary shelters.

Currently, within the framework of the National Program 10 cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the United Nations Population Fund, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the General Department of Population - Ministry of Health are coordinating to implement the Project "Prevention, control and response to gender-based violence and other harmful practices for the period 2022 - 2026", including the operation of the free national hotline 18001768 on gender-based violence to support women and girls who are victims of violence and programs for men within the framework of cooperation funded by the Australian Embassy.

Ms. Leu Thi Minh Hue - Deputy Head of the Social Department of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Union reported on the coordination activities to increase access to information and support services for female members and farmers who are victims of domestic violence in rural areas of Vietnam to the Australian Embassy delegation.

Regarding the support for the pilot development of the Responsible Fatherhood Model/Club, since 2018, UNFPA has supported the Vietnam Farmers' Union to pilot the Responsible Fatherhood Program in Quang Binh province with 5 Responsible Fatherhood Clubs, then replicated to 9 Clubs in Bac Giang and Ba Ria Vung Tau in 2019-2022.

Through the final assessment in the provinces where the project was implemented, members have had positive changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding gender stereotypes, building equal relationships in the family; knowing how to care for, show concern, and help their wives from pregnancy to childbirth; being proactive and accompanying their wives in caring for, raising children, and doing housework in the family, creating conditions and opportunities for women to participate in work and social activities, thereby helping to strengthen family affection and maintain a joyful and happy atmosphere.

Next, by 2023, UNFPA has supported the Vietnam Farmers' Association to replicate the Responsible Fatherhood Program in 3 other provinces and cities: Bac Ninh, Da Nang, Lam Dong, with 5 Clubs in each province, including 15 Clubs attracting 525 young men aged 18-35. Notably, the implementation of the Responsible Fatherhood Program in Da Nang has been supported by the Australian Government through the EVAWC project.

In addition, the two sides also coordinated to implement a program to support the establishment and operation of a model to support and advise men; and to provide essential kits for women in provinces at high risk of violence due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: https://danviet.vn/pho-chu-tich-bch-tu-hoi-nddvn-nguyen-xuan-dinh-lam-viec-voi-dai-su-uc-ve-binh-dang-gioi-20240520193547651.htm