Raise legal awareness, protect yourself

(Baonghean) - Propagating, educating the law, consulting and providing legal aid to women through specific models is one of the practical solutions being implemented by women's associations at all levels. Thereby, to help women raise their awareness of the law, protect their own rights and fight against all acts of discrimination and violence, affirm their role and position in the family and in society...

The Department of Justice and other departments and agencies of Que Phong district disseminate the law to women in Tri Le commune. Photo: Xuan Thong

Domestic violence and trafficking of women are among the hot issues that women's associations at all levels are concerned about. In recent years, many models of clubs, teams, and groups to help women know how to protect themselves have been established and expanded. Typical examples are the "Self-reliant Women's Groups" in Cua Lo Town. From the initial 2 groups in Nghi Hoa and Nghi Thu wards established in May 2010, up to now, the Women's Union of the town has multiplied to 6 groups, with 84 members. The "Self-reliant Women's" groups meet periodically once a month with many exciting and practical activities. In particular, the focus is on propagating and improving legal knowledge; gender equality; domestic violence prevention; behavioral culture; communication skills; health care knowledge; refuge skills; relieve anxiety, fear... Ms. Phung Thi Quynh Hoe - President of the Women's Union of Nghi Hoa Ward said: "In the past, many women who were abused often resigned themselves to it, because they thought "it's embarrassing for the husband, it's embarrassing for the husband", thanks to joining the group, they boldly spoke up, shared their feelings and bravely faced the situation to protect their dignity, protect family happiness because they knew they were no longer alone". Up to now, the "Self-reliant Women" groups have directly participated with local organizations to help reconcile more than 31 conflicting couples at risk of breaking up and reunite; intervened on the spot, promptly prevented 54 cases of domestic violence in many forms and degrees, in which the victims were all women, including a number of exceptional cases that had to be requested to be handled by the authorities. In the case of Ms. HTH in Nghi Huong Ward, after many years of silently enduring violence from her husband, she became depressed and had low self-esteem; Thanks to the encouragement, advice and sharing of the women in the group, she has learned how to protect herself and improve her marital relationship to avoid domestic violence.

In Thach Ngan (Con Cuong), to attract households to join the domestic violence prevention club, the commune women's association stood up to guarantee the bank for households to get preferential loans, and provided guidance on how to do business and increase income. Initially, the club only had 18 households participating, but now there are 24 couples participating, including many happy couples who still join the club to persuade and reform couples with domestic violence.

In addition to the problem of domestic violence, low education level, limited awareness, easy to lure, and entice, ethnic minority women in highland villages and hamlets have unintentionally become "delicious prey" for bad guys to take advantage of. They often become victims or become links in human trafficking rings that are becoming increasingly complicated. Faced with this situation, with the function of representing, caring for, and protecting the legal and legitimate rights of women, the Provincial Women's Union has directed the construction of a model of "Community support to prevent and combat human trafficking" at hot spots such as Don Phuc commune (Con Cuong district), Yen Hoa commune (Tuong Duong district), Hanh Dich commune (Que Phong district) and Chau Binh commune (Quy Chau district) to provide knowledge and skills to prevent and combat human trafficking for women. In addition, many solutions have been implemented to support psychological and legal counseling, support for cultural and vocational training, initial hardship subsidies and support for loans to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty to help them overcome their inferiority complex and reintegrate into the community... Up to now, the whole province has built 11 communication models in the community on preventing and combating crimes of trafficking in women and children. In 2014, the Provincial Women's Union also coordinated with the Provincial People's Court to organize 2 mobile trials of crimes of trafficking in women in Boi Son commune, Do Luong district and Con Cuong town; directed the community communication model on "Safe migration and prevention and combat of human trafficking" in Bao Thanh and Phuc Thanh communes (Yen Thanh); the model of an information and propaganda art troupe on preventing and combating human trafficking in Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town. Some club models are “Women with the law”, “Gender equality”, “Families without relatives violating and having social evils”, “Shield Club” model, “Happy family”…

To protect the legitimate rights and interests of women, the provincial women's associations at all levels have gradually consolidated and developed the legal consultancy network; mobilized core staff and members to participate in the models of "Self-management Teams" and "Reconciliation Teams", thereby building many typical factors such as Ms. Trinh Thi Van - Head of Hamlet and Head of the Drug Prevention and Control Club of Hamlet 8, Hung Loi Commune (Hung Nguyen) with many solutions to build a hamlet without drug addicts for 10 years. Or Ms. Tran Thi Hong (Hamlet 10, Nghi Hung Commune, Nghi Loc) has been the head of the grassroots mediation team for 10 years, has participated in resolving many conflicts in families and hamlets, and was awarded a certificate of merit by the Provincial People's Committee.

It can be said that the effectiveness of propaganda and legal education through specific models implemented by women's unions at all levels is quite clear. However, in some places, the operation of the model still faces many difficulties. According to Ms. Ha An - Head of the Legal Policy Department of the Provincial Women's Union, the reason is partly due to the limited qualifications, capacity, and skills of some union officials, especially female officials in mountainous and remote areas. Resources for propaganda, dissemination, and legal education for female officials and members in general and specific models in particular are still difficult, especially in special areas. In addition, some Party committees and authorities have not really paid attention to and created favorable conditions for the models of legal propaganda and dissemination activities of women's unions at all levels, which more or less affects the quality of the movement. Currently, the Women's Union at all levels has implemented many specific solutions to train and build a core team of cadres at the grassroots level; innovate club model activities, pilot models in many forms such as dramatization, democratic flower picking, legal storytelling, warning stories on hamlet and commune radio... so that legal documents and policies become easy to remember and understand. From there, it contributes to improving legal knowledge, protecting the legitimate rights of women; and implementing gender equality.

Article and photos:Khanh Ly