The ceremony was held by the Government of Australia and UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women in Vietnam.
The outgoing project was implemented jointly by UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women from May 2020 to May 2021 in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Farmer’s Union, the Vietnam Women’s Union, CSAGA and other relevant stakeholders. The project aimed at strengthening the national prevention and response mechanisms to address violence against women and children in the context of COVID-19.
Building on the project’s success, the Government of Australia is now providing AUD 9.5 million to support the new project “Elimination of Violence against Women and Children in Vietnam” which will be implemented from June 2021 to July 2025. This new project aims to achieve a goal that all women and children in Vietnam, including those most vulnerable, are able to live a life free of violence through strengthened prevention strategies and multisectoral responses.
Speaking at the ceremony, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara said that the new project shows a great cooperation between the Government of Australia, the Government of Vietnam, and the UN agencies to address violence against women and children in Vietnam.
"Ending violence against women and children should be a priority for everyone," she said. "Together, we are contribution to a Vietnam where there is no violence against women and children, and everyone’s dignity is respected.”
Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Representative in Vietnam said “The COVID-19 pandemic has made evident the need for available, quality essential services to provide an effective response to cases of violence against women and children. It also taught us that collaboration among all stakeholders, is needed to make a substantive difference in times of crises. As we move forward to the next 4-year project, we are offered a key opportunity to sustain our joint efforts so that capacities, resources and systems are in place to adequately respond to every case of gender-based violence and prevent new ones. UN Women is pleased to embark in this journey together”.
