That is the figure that the Institute for Family and Gender Studies - Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences informed at a recent conference. It is worth mentioning that victims, or witnesses, often remain silent in the face of incidents.
In Da Nang, the story that is causing a stir is the case of a man proposing to his girlfriend one day and then murdering her the next. On October 16, the police of Hoa Minh ward (Lien Chieu district, Da Nang city) received a phone call from Phan Van M. (born in 1997, residing in Kon Ray district, Kon Tum province) confessing to causing the death of Ms. Y H. (born in 2001, residing in Dak Glei district, Kon Tum province) at Thu Bon motel, Hoa Minh ward, Lien Chieu district (Da Nang city). At the scene, Ms. H. died lying on her back, with many stab wounds on her body. After committing the crime, M. went into hiding and drank pesticide to commit suicide but failed. Social networks also quickly spread a clip of M. romantically proposing to H just a few days before.
In Quang Nam, also on October 16, Phu Ninh District Police (Quang Nam Province) temporarily detained suspect Le Van T. (23 years old, residing in Tam Dan Commune, Phu Ninh District) for the crimes of humiliating others and fraud to appropriate property. Starting from the incident in 2023, when T. and Ms. H (from the same hometown) were still in love, T. secretly used his phone to record a sensitive clip between the two. After breaking up, knowing that Ms. H was about to get married, in May 2024, Tu sent this sensitive clip to many people in the family and the family of his ex-lover's future husband in order to humiliate her.
Then there was an incident in Quang Binh, on the afternoon of October 13, a 10th grade female student named D.T.T.H (in Minh Hoa district) participated in a drinking party with a group of young men in Trung Hoa commune (Minh Hoa district). In the evening of the same day, the group of young men took H to a motel while she was drunk and committed a depraved act. H then woke up, panicked, and got into an accident on her way home. Her family reported the incident to the authorities. H is being treated at the hospital. The authorities are currently investigating the incident.
The above three stories are just typical examples of stories in which women are victims.
At recent workshops organized by the Ministry of Public Security and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) on the topic of “Gender-sensitive investigations in cases of violence against women and human trafficking”, there were some sobering figures: In Vietnam, according to data from the National Study on Violence Against Women, gender-based violence causes damage to the Vietnamese economy up to 1.8% of GDP. However, 90% of cases of violence against women by husbands and boyfriends are kept silent. Women do not dare to report or speak up to seek justice for themselves because the investigation and prosecution procedures have not yet ensured “gender sensitivity”.
The authorities recommend: It is necessary to ensure the principle of “taking the victim as the center”, prioritizing their safety and practical needs, not allowing women to be condemned, criticized and blamed for being victims of violence and human trafficking. It is important that victims, or witnesses, do not remain silent when being abused.
