The effectiveness of the model of women participating in protecting national security

Women and Law Club

Visiting Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong) this time, we heard many "new things" of Mong women here, notably the activities of the "Women with the Law" Club.

Pha Lom village has 126 households with 676 people, the whole village has 118 workers working far away (mainly men). Therefore, women are the core in all common movements of the village, including the movement of the whole people to protect national security.

Previously, women of Mong Pha Lom village only knew how to go to the fields during the day and stay in the kitchen at night, but now they actively participate in social activities. Especially when there are signs of infiltration of "strange religions" in the village (including 5 households with 41 members, of which 19 are adults, including women), the life of the "Women with the Law" Club has a very practical meaning.

Accordingly, every month, the officers of Tam Hop Border Guard Station and the Club's Executive Board agree on the content and topics of the activities and then select topical issues to disseminate to women, focusing on: Law on Marriage and Family, Law on Gender Equality, Law on Prevention of Human Trafficking, Law on Vietnam Border Guard, Law on Prevention and Control of Drugs, Cyber ​​Fraud, Illegal Preaching, etc.

Ms. Vu Y Pia - Head of the "Women with the Law" Club in Pha Lom village said: The club currently has 25 members. Along with direct activities, the club also established a Zalo group so that women who work far away or do not participate in activities can grasp the content that the club implements.

“The establishment of the Women with the Law Club in Pha Lom village has become an “extended arm” in propagating and disseminating the law to each family and village. Thereby, helping people raise awareness, strictly comply with border regulations, not encroach on land or settlement; not assist criminals, not follow “strange religions”. Always preserve the good customs and practices of the Mong people…”, said Mr. Gia Ba Tru - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tam Hop commune.

In Thanh Thuy commune (Thanh Chuong), the Women's Law Club model jointly implemented by the Thanh Chuong District Women's Union and Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station has also had many positive results.

“From the pilot model in Thuy Son village in 2022 with 332 members, up to now, the locality has expanded 5 more "Women with the Law" clubs operating in a disciplined and effective manner. In addition, many other models have been established such as the "Domestic Violence Prevention and Control" Club, "Rehabilitating wrongdoers to reintegrate into the community" ... contributing to maintaining security and order, ensuring safety for women and children.

At the same time, it is a place for members to exchange, learn, improve their legal knowledge, promote the role of women in the fight against crime and protect national security," said Ms. Hoang Thi Hien - President of the Women's Union of Thanh Thuy commune.

Join hands to protect border security

Besides the "Women with the Law" Club model, some localities have established the "Women participating in protecting border security and sovereignty" Club which operates effectively.

A typical example is Thong Thu commune (Que Phong) - an area with 33.737km of border adjacent to Laos with 8 villages and hamlets, nearly 1,000 women members. In 2017, the Women's Union of Que Phong district directed the launch of the "Women participating in protecting border security and sovereignty" club in Muong Piet village, Thong Thu commune. After a period of operation, from 30 members to date, the club has attracted 65 women members to participate in activities.

Ms. Vi Thi Tam - President of the Women's Union of Thong Thu commune said: "Previously, before the club was established, women in the border village of Muong Piet sometimes violated border regulations when going into the forest to pick bamboo shoots or raise buffaloes and cows. After joining the club, women's legal awareness has been raised.

Many members have become active propagandists to inform their relatives and the community not to violate border regulations and to migrate freely. The club also regularly coordinates with Thong Thu Border Guard Station to participate in patrolling border lines and landmarks, protecting sovereignty and border security.

Realizing the widespread power of the above model, the Women's Union of Que Phong district continued to direct its replication in Lam Hop village, Tri Le commune and Long Thang village, Hanh Dich commune, attracting 212 members to participate.

Similarly, the "Women participating in protecting national sovereignty and border security" club in Huoi Vieng village, Doc May commune (Ky Son district) was launched in 2017 and still maintains regular activities every 3 months.

The activities focus on propagating and mobilizing women and people to comply with legal regulations related to national borders and border regulations; preventing illegal entry and exit; drug abuse, and human trafficking.

The club also coordinated with Na Loi Border Guard Station to organize propaganda, eradicate poison ivy, raise awareness, and eliminate the problem of using poison ivy to commit suicide by a group of people in mountainous areas.

Whenever they discover anything unusual while working in the fields, members of the "Women participating in protecting sovereignty and border security" club in Huoi Vieng village promptly report it to the authorities and functional forces for handling.

“Only when the border is peaceful can the villages be peaceful. The responsibility of protecting the border belongs to the entire population, so women cannot stand aside,” affirmed Ms. Vu Y Ca - Club President.

In Mon Son commune (Con Cuong district), 3 clubs "Women participating in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security" in Bac Son village, Nam Son village and Yen village with 105 members are also maintained to operate effectively.

Ms. Vi Thi Thuy Duong - President of the Women's Union of Mon Son Commune said: "By joining the Club, members not only regularly update their legal knowledge, but also have the opportunity to support each other in life through fundraising activities. The Club's funds will be used to buy plant and animal breeds to support members in difficult circumstances, helping them improve their lives.

At the meeting on July 10, 2024, the "Women participating in protecting territorial sovereignty and national border security" club in Bac Son village donated 140 kg of rice to the "rice savings jar" to help 6 poor female members.

Diversify models

Currently, the whole province has more than 500 club models with names such as: "Women with the law", "Gender equality", "Families without relatives violating the law and suffering from social evils", "Prevention of early marriage and incestuous marriage", "Sustainable happy family"; "Peace" club...

In particular, the Provincial Women's Union directed the establishment of 2 "rapid response teams" to support cases of domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking; 2 groups "Supporting women to migrate for safe labor" in Son Thanh and Bao Thanh communes (Yen Thanh).

At the same time, build models of "Community support to prevent and combat human trafficking"; "Trusted addresses, temporary shelters in the community" in the communes of Luong Minh, Xa Luong, Yen Hoa, Tam Quang (Tuong Duong district); Hanh Dich, Muong Noc (Que Phong district); Chau Thang commune (Quy Chau district); Phu Son commune (Tan Ky district); Huu Kiem commune (Ky Son district); model "Safe village for women and children" in Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc district); "Responsible men" club with members who are perpetrators of violence and "New vitality" club with members who are victims of violence in the communes of Quynh Luong, Quynh Thang (Quynh Luu district)...

Every year, the Provincial Women's Union organizes the signing of a cooperation program with prisons and detention camps to coordinate the rehabilitation of female prisoners and help them reintegrate into the community; directs the district associations of 21 districts, cities and towns to coordinate with local police to monitor and help female prisoners who have completed their prison terms and return to their localities.

Along with that, the association at all levels actively coordinates with the authorities in providing denunciations to promptly prevent activities of enticing, luring, human trafficking, property fraud and other crimes... At the same time, promote the construction and replication of advanced models and examples in the fight against crime, protecting national security; support women and children who suffer from gender-based violence.

Through the activities of the key models, many disadvantaged and disadvantaged women members have been supported to stabilize their lives; in addition, these models also contribute to motivating and encouraging women's associations at all levels to stand side by side with functional forces to maintain security and order, firmly protecting national border security and sovereignty.