The situation of early marriage and consanguineous marriage used to be a burning issue in some remote communes in localities in the province, and in Lac Son district is no exception. With the synchronous efforts of local authorities, prestigious forces and mass organizations, knowledge about the Law on Marriage and Family (HN&GD) has gradually been brought to every roof, every neighborhood meeting. Many families have changed their perception, many young people are avoiding early marriages - those are positive signals spreading from communication sessions in the highlands.
Implementing Sub-project 2 under Project 9, National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Minority Areas, from 2021 to present, Lac Son district has compiled and provided 4,556 legal documents. Communication is not only limited to the hall but also reaches every roof, every village and hamlet meeting, and community art night. 39 thematic communication activities such as seminars, cultural exchanges, etc. were organized, with the participation of prestigious people, village elders, grassroots cadres and a large number of people.
At a propaganda session organized by the provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions in coordination with the district Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions and Lac Son Boarding and High School for Ethnic Minorities, the atmosphere of the hall became exciting thanks to the active participation of students. Through skits, speeches, and performances presented by the children themselves, knowledge about early marriage and consanguineous marriage is conveyed vividly and easily. According to Mr. Ha Cong Khanh - Vice Principal of the school, this propaganda activity helps 330 students from 11 classes raise awareness and spread to their families and communities, contributing to changing behavior and preventing child marriage in ethnic minority areas.
Over the past 4 years, over 2,700 people have participated in communication sessions on preventing early marriage and consanguineous marriage. Not only disseminating the Law on Women and GD in an easy-to-understand way, "native" mediators and propagandists also mediate cases with signs of early marriage right in the community. There were weddings planned to be held early, but thanks to the timely intervention of the village elders themselves, the patriarchal family - parents changed their decision.
Lac Son district also built and replicated 7 community communication models to change behavior and improve access to legal information for people in mountainous areas. These models are not imposed, but promote the internal strength in the community: people participate in creating skits, compiling dialogue scripts, and communicating through forms suitable to local culture.
According to the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Lac Son district, early marriage and consanguineous marriage are not only a violation of the law, but also lead to consequences for reproductive health, the quality of rice grains, and are barriers to sustainable development in ethnic minority areas. Therefore, the dissemination of the Law on Natural Resources and Environment in Lac Son is not simply a work of disseminating laws, but an important part in changing thinking, building a new, civilized, and progressive lifestyle.
The dissemination of the Law on inheritance and continuity in Lac Son district is gradually bringing about results. People are gradually understanding more about the consequences of early marriage and consanguineous marriage; students have access to information more early and accurately. Although there are still many difficulties, with appropriate approaches and closely following reality, legal propaganda work is contributing to changing awareness in the community, especially in remote communes in the area.
