Hanoi school teaches students about violence

From UN Women

High School students in Hanoi were thrilled today to welcome an eminent teacher back to the classroom. As part of a three-day visit to Viet Nam, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka visited the historic Chu Van An High School to deliver an important lesson on gender-based violence.

A woman in Ha Noi’s Dong Anh District polishes wooden furniture. Provision for social protection for women and girls is needed to help improve access to social services and employment. Photo from Viet Nam Net Bridge. 

A former teacher herself, it was clear that Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka had lost none of her classroom magic. She engaged more than 450 students in an animated and inspiring 90-minute dialogue on the role of young people in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.

“Today’s discussion is about your role, your actions and your responsibilities to help prevent violence against women and girls,” she said.

Gender-based violence has been identified as a major problem in the country, one of the main barriers to empowering girls and achieving gender equality. The National Study on Domestic Violence against Women in Viet Nam from 2010 suggests that a third of ever-married women have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives. If sexual violence and emotional abuse are added, the figure climbs to nearly 60 percent.

In spite of the sensitive subject, the students actively engaged with their high-level visitor, sharing insights into a problem that they said they believe is deeply rooted in traditional gender roles and stereotypes.

“I think the main roots of gender-based violence are in the past. Traditional thinking believed that men were the decision-makers in the family and women didn’t have a voice,” said Viet, a boy in grade 11 (for children aged 16-17 in Viet Nam).

Others had more personal experiences to share. “I’ve observed this kind of violence. I’ve personally seen the effects of abuse and sexual discrimination. It didn’t affect me physically, but it has affected my learning and my life. Mental abuse is very hard to see,” said a girl in class 11D.

Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka had some practical advice to share. “If you see violence at home, at school or in the community it’s your responsibility to report it.

Read the full article from UN Women.