The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a regulation on inter-sectoral coordination to pilot the implementation of the "One-stop model to support women and children in Ho Chi Minh City".

The purpose is to improve the accountability of each agency, unit and individual in implementing the coordination process of transferring patients who have suffered violence or sexual abuse to appropriate services in a timely, synchronized and effective manner.

In addition, mobilize resources from all parties to maximize the effectiveness of providing essential services to support and intervene for patients who suffer violence and sexual abuse but are unable to protect themselves. yourself, helping to rescue them safely.

This regulation also sets out a number of supporting principles. Specifically: Centering people experiencing violence and sexual abuse: Support services need to help enhance the autonomy of people experiencing violence and sexual abuse; Accordingly, they have the right to make their own decisions, including deciding not to access essential services, and are supported to make and implement their decisions. Support services need to work with each person experiencing violence or sexual abuse as a separate and unique individual with their own needs;

Safety first: The safety of people experiencing violence and sexual abuse should be given top priority and is the number one principle when providing support services. Managers of people suffering from violence and sexual abuse, when providing support activities in all situations, must assess their level of safety to take the next steps;

Rights-based approach: Support services must ensure support for people experiencing violence and sexual abuse to exercise their rights such as the right to safety, the right to not be discriminated against, and the right to receive medical care. , right to expression, right to self-determination, right to information;

Promoting gender equality: Services provided are gender-sensitive, breaking down gender stereotypes and gender-based discrimination, helping people experiencing violence and sexual abuse make decisions and providing resource support. force them to carry out their decisions;

Enforcing justice: People who suffer violence and sexual abuse need judicial support to ensure that the person who causes violence and sexual abuse is responsible before the law;

Inter-sectoral and inter-organizational coordination: People experiencing violence and sexual abuse often have diverse needs, so inter-sectoral and inter-organizational coordination is needed to ensure comprehensive and continuous support. for them; Depending on each case, it may be necessary to coordinate with organizations and individuals (foreign representative agencies) during the support process.

Go to the "one-stop" model instead of seeking support from varius places

It can be said that this is the next step of Ho Chi Minh City in supporting women and children suffering from violence. Previously, on March 24, the first one-stop model to support women and children experiencing violence piloted in Ho Chi Minh City was officially launched at Hung Vuong Hospital, located at 128 Hong Bang, Ward 12, District 5.

This one-stop model performs the functions of receiving, screening, treating, consulting and providing on-site services for women and children suffering from violence and sexual abuse. Instead of having to go to many places to seek support, women and children experiencing violence only need to go to the "one-stop" model to receive medical care, psychological and legal advice.

If an emergency shelter is needed, Hung Vuong Hospital Social Work staff will transfer the victim to the City Center for Social Work - Vocational Education for Youth, located at 14 Nguyen Van Bao, Ward. 4, Go Vap District for care and nurturing, therapeutic intervention and access to other essential services according to need.

It is known that the pilot implementation of the "One-stop model to support women and children in Ho Chi Minh City" located at medical facilities is a new solution without precedent in Vietnam. Experience in responding to gender-based violence shows that medical facilities are often the first place patients in different age groups, occupations and circumstances go to.

When operating, the model will review gaps in policies and regulations of each industry to unify the principles and standards of providing one-stop services to victims. The one-stop model is a safe destination, a place to intervene, assist, and provide closed and appropriate essential service packages for each victim in the city.

The one-stop model was born after more than two years of research with the professional leadership and coordination of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Health along with other relevant departments, branches, agencies and units. Live talk from Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City.

This is an activity within the Safe City for Women and Children program implemented by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. with technical support from the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the companionship of the PE&D Organization in Vietnam. Time to pilot the One-Stop Model is in the period 2022 - 2026.

Minh Vy