Vietnamese girls benefit from Plan International support

Country Director of Plan International Vietnam Glenn Gibney speaks at the event (Source:Internet)

A communication event themed “Promoting equality-connecting love” was held by the Hanoi Education and Training Department and Plan International Vietnam on October 8.

As part of a campaign called “Because I am a girl” launched by humanitarian organisation Plan International Vietnam, the event aimed to raise pupils’ awareness of gender equality and sexual harassment to girls at schools.

The programme responded to the International Day of the Girl endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on October 11 in 2013. It is the third year Plan has organised the event in Vietnam.

According to Country Director of Plan International Vietnam Glenn Gibney, a recent Plan’s research with 4,000 girl respondents from 15 to 19 years old in four countries has showed that a majority of them are facing violence in their daily life, including in family, on street, at schools, and other issues such as arranged marriage and early pregnancy.

Through its programmes, Plan International looks to raise students’ awareness of gender equality and girl-targeted sexual harassment at schools as well as factors that can make negative physical and spiritual impacts on female juveniles while attending schools.

Under the five year-programme, the organisation will join hands with local authorities to encourage Vietnamese girls to get involved in making decisions, while further financing education from preschool to secondary degree.-VNA