Strengthening the protection of women and children in workers' dormitories

On the afternoon of December 20, the first Ho Chi Minh City Women's Congress, term 2025 - 2030, held its first session, with the participation of 301 delegates.

At the first session, the Congress elected the Presidium, the Secretariat, the Delegation to review the status of delegates; approved the Congress's program, rules and regulations; reported and synthesized comments on the documents of the 14th National Women's Congress; drafted the Association's Charter for amendments and supplements; documents of the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Women's Congress, term 2025 - 2030 and held a discussion.

The Congress presented certificates of merit from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to collectives and individuals who had outstanding achievements in the work of the association and the women's movement of the city in the previous term.

The Congress also divided into 3 discussion groups. In discussion group No. 1, Ms. Le Thi Kim Thuy - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation proposed a solution to link the association's activities with landlords. In recent times, the association has built many boarding house owners who are exemplary members. From there, good models can spread more.

Priority should be given to choosing boarding houses near export processing zones and industrial parks, because this is a place with a large concentration of female workers. These are people who need connection and access to the association after working hours at factories and enterprises.

In order to achieve the goal of ensuring the safety of children, Ms. Le Thi Kim Thuy proposed that the Association should have solutions to coordinate and recommend local authorities in boarding houses with many workers to support the construction of family groups of children.

Currently, the City People's Council has issued many policies and guidelines related to this field. Therefore, the Association needs to review and fully collect statistics on Ho Chi Minh City's policies and solutions for female and child workers, thereby unifying the common policy foundation for effective implementation.

Regarding this issue, Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet - Director of Hung Vuong Hospital expressed her support for the Association's programs for women and girls in boarding houses, to ensure the safety of women and children in these areas.

Ms. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet suggested that during the propaganda process, the Association should add and introduce the one-stop model of Bo Cong Anh at Hung Vuong Hospital. This is a model to support women and children subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation, providing comprehensive care in terms of health, psychology, and law, while also providing temporary emergency shelter, helping victims escape the vicious cycle of violence and exploitation.

Second, women in boarding houses often pay less attention to health care, in which cervical cancer is a common disease, behind breast cancer in women. According to the World Health Organization, the goal by 2030 is to eliminate cervical cancer, with a new incidence rate of less than 4 cases/100,000 women per year.

Ms. Diem Tuyet suggested that the Association consider including this content in the 5-year activity program, closely coordinating with the health sector, towards the goal of eliminating cervical cancer according to the recommendation of the World Health Organization, first in Ho Chi Minh City, towards a wider scope nationwide.