What is domestic violence? Regulations on domestic violence acts in Vietnam

What is domestic violence? Regulations on domestic violence acts in Vietnam (Internet image) 

1. What is domestic violence?

According to Clause 2, Article 7 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2007, domestic violence is defined as purposeful acts of certain family members that cause or may possibly cause physical, mental or economic injuries to other family members.

2. Domestic violence acts

Domestic violence acts specified in Article 2 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2007, include:

- Corporal beating, ill-treating, torturing or other purposeful acts causing injuries to one’s health and life;

-  Insulting or other intended acts meant to offend one’s human pride, honour and dignity;

- Isolating, shunning or creating constant psychological pressure on other family members, causing serious consequences;

- Preventing the exercise of the legal rights and obligations in the relationship between grandparents and grand children, between parents and children, between husbands and wives as well as among brothers and sisters.

- Forced sex;

- Forced child marriage; forced marriage or divorce and obstruction to freewill and progressive marriage

- Appropriating, demolishing, destroying or other purposeful acts to damage the private properties of other family members, or the shared properties of family members;

- Forcing other family members to overwork or to contribute more earning than they can afford; controlling other family members’ incomes to make them financially dependent;

- Conducting unlawful acts to turn other family members out of their domicile.

Note: The violent acts above shall also be applicable to family members in cases of divorcees or living together as husband and wife without marriage registration.

3. Principles of domestic violence prevention and control in Vietnam

- Taking combined and integrated measures to prevent and fight domestic violence with preventive measures as key and special attention paid to communication and education on family values, counselling and reconciliation in line with the fine   traditional and cultural practices of Viet Nam.

- Domestic violence acts must be timely discovered, stopped and dealt with in accordance with laws.

- Victims of domestic violence must be timely protected and assisted in accordance with their actual conditions and situation, and the national socio-economic situation; giving priority in protecting the legal rights and benefits of children, elderly people, disabled people and women.

- Promoting the role and responsibility of individuals, families, communities, institutions and organizations in preventing and controling domestic violence.

(Article 3 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2007)

4. Obligations of persons committing domestic violence in Vietnam

- Respecting lawful community interference, stopping immediately violent acts against family members.

- Complying with decisions of the authorized institutions and organizations.

- Timely sending the victims for first aid and medical treatments; taking care of the victims of domestic violence unless  the victims refuse these offers.

- Compensating for the damages and losses caused to the domestic violence victims when required in accordance with the Law.

(Article 4 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2007)

5. Rights and obligations of domestic violence victims in Vietnam

- Victims of  domestic violence shall have the following rights:

+ To request the authorized institutions, organizations and individuals to protect their lives, dignity and other rights and legitimate benefits

+ To request the authorized institutions and individuals to apply measures to prevent, protect and  forbid contact as stipulated by this Law.

+ To be provided with medical services as well as psychological and legal advice;

+ To be provided with temporary domicile which shall be kept confidential as well as with other information that is regulated by this Law;

+ Other rights stipulated by laws.

- Victims shall be obliged to provide information relating to the domestic violence to the authorized individuals, institutions and organizations when required

(Article 5 of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control 2007)

Diem My

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