Nguyen Thi Na (not her real name), a 35-year-old resident of Tien DuDistrict in northern Bac Ninh Province , has been the victim ofdomestic violence for about four years now.
Beaten andinsulted by her husband, who is an alcoholic, Na has struggled on as thebread winner of the family as her husband is unable to find a stablejob. The family seems to be doing well financially with a proper homeand nice furniture, largely thanks to Na's efforts in farming andpoultry breeding. However, the couple does not have a happy family life.
Their marriage started out well in 1994, resulting in thebirths of two children, but things got worse from 2008 when Na'shusband became an alcoholic.
Every night, when her husband got drunk, he threw things about the house, insulted his wife, and sometimes even hit her.
"I don't dare to fight back because people here are prejudiced againstwomen who fight back against their husbands," said Na in a voice chokedwith tears.
Na is among 75 women who sought help from thelocal authorities to intervene and end domestic violence in theirfamilies. Na sent a petition to the Commune People's Committee after sheheard of a project aimed at curbing domestic violence in Tien DuDistrict.
Informed of Na's situation, officials from thelocal People's Committee and the Women's Union visited her family,offered advice to the couple and warned the husband of the consequences.
The situation seemed to get better after a while;although it was not fully solved as the husband's addiction to alcoholhad not ended. He behaves well during the day when he is sober, butstill verbally abuses his wife and sometimes displays violent behaviour.Na says he resents her for reporting their family problem.
"No wife sends a petition against her husband," said the husband.
Local officials continue to keep track of Na's life and visit her home regularly.
Na is not alone when it comes to domestic violence. According to NgoThi Nga, chairwoman of the Women's Union of Phat Tich Commune, Tien DuDistrict, from 2007 to the present, there have been nearly 200 cases ofdomestic violence reported in the commune.
From early 2011, 20 cases have been reported.
Nga said the cases resulted from financial difficulties, limited knowledge of the law and infidelity.
But an important deep-rooted cause is the social mentality of menbelieving they are superior to women, Nga said at a community meetingheld as part of a project on financing work aimed at reducing domesticviolence.
Nguyen Thi Hoai Linh, the project's head, alsodeputy head of the International Relations Department under the VietnamWomen's Union , had the same opinion.
Linh said because of this attitude of male superiority, many men feel they have the right to impose their will on their wives.
Since the launch of the project in March, 2010, however, the situation has seemed to improve.
The ill-treated now have access to legal advise, as is the case for Na.They are encouraged to speak out and their concerns are now listenedto. Some receive protection from the police, who are co-operating withthe project.
Victims' husbands have become less inclinedto violent behaviour after receiving counselling from social workers orbeing warned by the police.
Linh said the project's mostnotable success is to create a network where different agencies,including the women's union, legal forces, the media and police, joinhands to improve the situation.
The set-up of supportgroups at local levels and the presence of social workers is a lifelinefor desperate wives, who may need help at almost any time of the day,even late at night.
"The support provided by socialworkers may help save the lives of the women if they attempt to commitsuicide or if their husbands go out of control."
Theproject has also helped organise regular community meetings in communesand residential areas to raise awareness on women's rights and lawsagainst domestic violence.
"I feel comforted to have had my voice heard, although the problem cannot be solved over night," said Na.
Na said she hopes to have reliable legal advice to either improve thesituation or to help her gain a favourable divorce. What she most wantsis to gain custody of her children and have a fair share of theirproperty.
The ‘Financial planning capacity to reducedomestic violence' project is being run by the Vietnam Women's Union insix cities and provinces, including northern Bac Ninh Province, centralDa Nang City and southern Soc Trang province. It is sponsored by theSpanish Agency for International Development Co-operation./.
Beaten andinsulted by her husband, who is an alcoholic, Na has struggled on as thebread winner of the family as her husband is unable to find a stablejob. The family seems to be doing well financially with a proper homeand nice furniture, largely thanks to Na's efforts in farming andpoultry breeding. However, the couple does not have a happy family life.
Their marriage started out well in 1994, resulting in thebirths of two children, but things got worse from 2008 when Na'shusband became an alcoholic.
Every night, when her husband got drunk, he threw things about the house, insulted his wife, and sometimes even hit her.
"I don't dare to fight back because people here are prejudiced againstwomen who fight back against their husbands," said Na in a voice chokedwith tears.
Na is among 75 women who sought help from thelocal authorities to intervene and end domestic violence in theirfamilies. Na sent a petition to the Commune People's Committee after sheheard of a project aimed at curbing domestic violence in Tien DuDistrict.
Informed of Na's situation, officials from thelocal People's Committee and the Women's Union visited her family,offered advice to the couple and warned the husband of the consequences.
The situation seemed to get better after a while;although it was not fully solved as the husband's addiction to alcoholhad not ended. He behaves well during the day when he is sober, butstill verbally abuses his wife and sometimes displays violent behaviour.Na says he resents her for reporting their family problem.
"No wife sends a petition against her husband," said the husband.
Local officials continue to keep track of Na's life and visit her home regularly.
Na is not alone when it comes to domestic violence. According to NgoThi Nga, chairwoman of the Women's Union of Phat Tich Commune, Tien DuDistrict, from 2007 to the present, there have been nearly 200 cases ofdomestic violence reported in the commune.
From early 2011, 20 cases have been reported.
Nga said the cases resulted from financial difficulties, limited knowledge of the law and infidelity.
But an important deep-rooted cause is the social mentality of menbelieving they are superior to women, Nga said at a community meetingheld as part of a project on financing work aimed at reducing domesticviolence.
Nguyen Thi Hoai Linh, the project's head, alsodeputy head of the International Relations Department under the VietnamWomen's Union , had the same opinion.
Linh said because of this attitude of male superiority, many men feel they have the right to impose their will on their wives.
Since the launch of the project in March, 2010, however, the situation has seemed to improve.
The ill-treated now have access to legal advise, as is the case for Na.They are encouraged to speak out and their concerns are now listenedto. Some receive protection from the police, who are co-operating withthe project.
Victims' husbands have become less inclinedto violent behaviour after receiving counselling from social workers orbeing warned by the police.
Linh said the project's mostnotable success is to create a network where different agencies,including the women's union, legal forces, the media and police, joinhands to improve the situation.
The set-up of supportgroups at local levels and the presence of social workers is a lifelinefor desperate wives, who may need help at almost any time of the day,even late at night.
"The support provided by socialworkers may help save the lives of the women if they attempt to commitsuicide or if their husbands go out of control."
Theproject has also helped organise regular community meetings in communesand residential areas to raise awareness on women's rights and lawsagainst domestic violence.
"I feel comforted to have had my voice heard, although the problem cannot be solved over night," said Na.
Na said she hopes to have reliable legal advice to either improve thesituation or to help her gain a favourable divorce. What she most wantsis to gain custody of her children and have a fair share of theirproperty.
The ‘Financial planning capacity to reducedomestic violence' project is being run by the Vietnam Women's Union insix cities and provinces, including northern Bac Ninh Province, centralDa Nang City and southern Soc Trang province. It is sponsored by theSpanish Agency for International Development Co-operation./.
