The family is the fundamental unit of society, providing both spiritual and material support to each of its members. It is a place where individuals can express love, share with one another, and nurture meaningful connections. Families also serve as the core for preserving and passing down cultural traditions and values of the homeland and the nation. Positive moral values are formed, cultivated, and cherished within every family, laying the foundation for a healthy society. For society to grow in a sustainable way, each family must first be strong and stable. However, today, an alarming issue remains: domestic violence continues to persist, often hidden within households.
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Statistics on domestic violence cases reveal that the main types of abuse are psychological and physical. Victims of domestic violence include children, the elderly, and women, with women being the most affected group.
There are multiple causes of domestic violence, including remnants of feudal attitudes, gender inequality, male dominance, and patriarchal behavior in certain men. Other contributing factors are the lack of communication skills, inadequate conflict resolution abilities among family members, and a lack of understanding of legal regulations such as the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Marriage and Family, the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, and the Law on Children. Social ills such as alcoholism, gambling, drug abuse, prostitution, and infidelity further contribute to domestic violence. Another significant factor is the tendency of victims to endure, remain silent and be reluctant to report acts of domestic violence.
Domestic violence brings numerous harmful consequences, not only causing physical and emotional harm to direct victims but also impacting children who grow up in such environments. It disrupts family bonds, leading to strained relationships between spouses and between parents and children, often resulting in family dissolution, unhappiness, and even divorce. These breakdowns lessen parental responsibility in caring for children, who may then drift away from their families, become vulnerable to negative societal influences, or fall victim to social evils. Domestic violence also inflicts economic losses: family assets are depleted by violent behavior, and family income and contributions to society decline as victims lose productivity due to the trauma. Therefore, a proper understanding and recognition of domestic violence is essential so that all individuals are aware of and adhere to the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, a crucial step for every family, community, and society.
According to a report consolidating data on families and domestic violence prevention in Hanoi, the number of domestic violence cases has dropped from 369 in 2013 to just 45 in 2023. This is a positive sign in the city’s efforts to combat domestic violence. Hanoi has successfully implemented initiatives to build and enforce the local National Action Program on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, integrating program goals and objectives into economic and social development plans. The city has also intensified efforts to promote legal awareness, encouraging behavioral changes within the population to address domestic violence, and fostered the campaign for “cultural families” and “civilized lifestyles.” Efforts to build “cultural families” and “cultural neighborhoods” have included the criteria of a violence-free environment, along with no excessive alcohol consumption and a ban on gambling and drug abuse, as part of the assessment for cultural family recognition.
While the government and organizations are working diligently to create a civilized, safe society, the key to preventing and eradicating domestic violence and building a happy family lies largely in individual responsibility. Couples need to embrace responsibility, enhance their understanding of family life, acquire skills for communication and child-rearing, and build financial independence. Each family member should strive to increase their social awareness and legal knowledge to safeguard the happiness of their family.
Quyen Le