[Vnbiz] Vo Thi Hao's article on domestic violence

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear chi Hao & CACC,

Thanks for raising a loud alarm on this domestic violence issue, chi Hao.
It is a really serious issue.  It signifies the breaking down of our social
structure, due to the opening of the economy and the collapse of traditional
community support system.

I think in the old days , the Women's Union and the local authority (at the
village or ward level) got involved heavily and effectively on domestic
issues, including domestic violence.

It is apparent that the Women's Union today has dropped many of its
traditional roles, such as helping families keep the peace.  However, the
social pressure on the family has increased manyfold as chi Hao presents in
her article.  Thus, domestic violence has been raising tremendously.

The essential point here is that not only domestic violence but many other
family-related issues will be on the rise, such as teenager's
prenancy, alcohol, drugs, violence in the school, violence in the home,
etc.   This is simply the result of a new economy that moves very fast, puts
a lot of stress on everyone, and offers more opportunities to go down the
wrong path, while the individual is receiving less support from the extended
family. the neighhorhood, and the local community.  This is a major major
major social issue that needs to be addressed quick.

About domestic violence, first, law enforcement authorities have to treat
domestic violence as a crime, not merely as an internal family issue.  It
is difficult, because domestic violence involved emotional issues among
family members and law enforcers  don't want to break up families.  But
these are serious crimes that may easily lead to murder and mayhem, as shown
in chi Hao's article, and law enforcers need to treat them as such.

Second, we do need to build a network of social workers that may work with
government, schools, hospital and other public institutions on domestic
violence and many other social issues that will be on the rise steadily
because of Vietnam's booming economy.  Social workers are still unknown in
Vietnam as a profession.  This needs to be changed.  (Sister Hong Hoa, our
in-house social worker, you may want to think about a project to bring
social worker profession more into the public light).

Third, churches and temples  traditionally help families keep the peace.  We
need to encourage these institutions to be more active in this issue today.

I have the feeling that some international NGOs would be very good at this
domestic violence issue, because they are experience with a
comprehensive system where the police, the school, the  social workers and
other government agencies work together in a network to handle domestic
violence.  Does anyone know of any NGO in Vietnam that may be interested in
this issue?

About the Tran Thi Chi's case, maybe she should not be punished but should
be cured instead, chi Hao.   It is very possible that she had been under
extreme depression for a long time and when she saw her dad's violence
against her mom, she simply "lost it" and acted crazily.  In criminology, it
is called "temporary insanity" and that is a legal defense.

Thanks again, chi Hao for the good article.

Have a great day!

Hoanh
__________

On 3/6/07, Tran Dinh Hoanh <tdhoanh at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear chi Hao & CACC,
>
> Chi Vo Thi Hao is sending to everyone (via me) her article on domestic
> violence, to invite our thoughts.  I hope every one would share in chi Hao's
> concern on this serious problem.  Th article is in the attached "docbao
> 27-2-07" file.
>
> Thank you, chi Hao for sharing your concern with everyone in the family.
>
> On another issue, we are talking about running for the National Assembly.
> Not sure you're in the mood, but now that I am talking to you, I really
> think that you should run for the National Assembly, chi Hao.  You should be
> in the National Assembly.  That would be good for our people.  Please think
> about this seriously, sister.
>
> Great day, chi Hao and all.
>
> Hoanh
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Hao Vo Thi <haovothi at yahoo.com>
> Date: Mar 5, 2007 10:32 PM
> Subject: Vo Thi Hao gui bai
> To: tdhoanh at gmail.com
>
> Em gui bai viet nay ve bao luc gia dinh cho dien dan. Khong viet bang
> tieng Anh duoc dau. Tuy anh "xu ly"
> Voi mong muon moi nguoi gop y kien de thay doi tinh trang nay o VN.
> Chuc anh vui va thanh cong
> Vo Thi Hao
>
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> Attorney of Law
> Washington DC
>
>
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