This activity, supported by the Australian Government, aims to improve the quality of services to support women and children survivors of gender-based violence in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The essential equipment and facilities were handed over to the Peace House Shelter in Ha Noi and Can Tho province. The handover ceremony was facilitated by Mrs.Bui Thi Hoa, Vice President of Vietnam Women's Union, Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Vietnam and Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Representative of UN Women Viet Nam.

This assistance is under the joint project of Supporting Interventions to Eliminate Violence against Women and Children in Vietnam under Covid-19 Emergency Context, financially sponsored by the Australian Government with technical support of UN Women, UNFPA and UNICEF.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only impacted the economy and society severely but also have heightened the risk of violence against women and children. According to an UN Women’s report, globally, the rate of violence against women and children has increased from between 30% to 300 % since the outbreak of the global pandemic. In Viet Nam, calls and text messages to the hotlines and the number of survivors seeking help from the Peace House Shelters doubled during the lockdown and social distancing, it was 7 times higher in 2020 compared to 2019.

“The event is a clear example of our joint effort to contribute to the COVID-19 Response of the Vietnam government, especially in ending violence against women and children and safeguarding the continuity of essential services and the safety for women and children as survivors of violence in the circumstances of lockdown and restricted mobility to control the COVID-19 pandemic. In parallel with providing basic equipment and facilities, UN Women have supported to build capacity for social workers in charge of the hotlines and Peace House Shelters to respond to the surge of violence against women and children in the COVID-19 pandemic which is named the Shadow Pandemic. Especially under the COVID-19 Pandemic, each call to the hotline and temporary safe shelter that Peace House Shelters offer are a lifesaver for survivors” - Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Representative of UN Women in Vietnam shared in the ceremony.

Mr. Andrew Barnes, Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Vietnam expressed his gratitude and appreciation towards the hotline staff and social workers of the Peace House Shelters, who has been working relentlessly to support many women and children survivors of violence.

“Worldwide, COVID-19 has painfully exposed inequalities and trauma borne by many groups, including women and children. It has revealed a scale of suffering within households that we cannot ignore” said Deputy Ambassador Barnes. “I am proud that, through this project, Australia has been able to play a role in supporting Vietnam to provide safety and help meet the basic needs of women and children survivors of violence. There is much work left to do and we commend the frontline staff, in particular, who work tirelessly in this effort.”

Ms. Duong Ngoc Linh, Director of The Center for Women and Development, the center responsible for the Peace House Shelters said: “The equipment and facilities we are receiving today are meaningful presents, which help our staff and the temporary residents of the Peace House Shelters feel safer during the pandemic context, contributing to the completion of the essential service packages for women and children survivors of Gender-based Violence, especially in the crisis context of the COVID-19”.

The hotlines and the Peace House Shelters are parts of the Center for Women and Development, managed by Vietnam Women’s Union, offering comprehensive and free shelter services up to 6 months for women and children suffering from domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking. Since the establishment, the hotlines and the Peace House Shelters have provided counselling support for 9043 people; rescued, received and provided direct support for 1361 women and 560 children in temporary residence.

During the COVID-19 in 2020 in particular, the counselling calls through the hotline 1900969680 and via social media platforms of the Peace House Shelters were 7 times higher compared to the same period of the previous year. The Peace House Shelters have coordinated with local authorities to provide on crisis/emergency counseling, rescued 30 cases, which increased 40%. Women and children experiencing violence can call to 1900969680 for timely support./.