Illustrative image (Photo: baochinhphu.vn) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - More than 70 percent ofdivorces in the past 10 years could be attributed to domestic violence,according to a recent report from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The ministry’s report, which reviewed 12 years ofimplementing the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, showed thatabout 300,000 cases relating to domestic violence were reported nationwide in2009-2019.
In 10 years, among nearly 1.4 million divorces, more than 1million stemmed from domestic violence.
There were nearly 25,000 victims treated in medicalestablishments and 19,000 others were provided support by social welfarefacilities.
The ministry said in 2009-2019, there were more than 33,000cases of domestic violence that perpetrators were handled by authorities.
However, measures handling the perpetrators were mainly inthe forms of comments, conciliation and criticism in residential areas, andadministrative sanctions in the form of warning or fines. Those measuresaccounted for 73.6 percent.
Only in cases of intentional injury, torture, destruction ofproperty, or murder were criminal charges brought.
The ministry admitted that comments, conciliation, criticismin the community, and administrative sanctions did not ensure deterrence.Besides, administrative procedures and conditions for handling domesticviolence cases were still quite complex, especially provisions on writingdenunciations.
Many victims were reluctant to contact authorities becausethey did not know how to present their situation and were even threatened bythe perpetrators if they spoke up.
Efforts to ban perpetrators from contacting their victimshave also been hamstrung, as often the victim of abuse is the one forced toleave their house. This can result in stigma from both their family and society.
In addition, victim support facilities did not operateeffectively, with some facilities only listed in the law but not operating inpractice.
Supporting victims of domestic violence in emergencies wasstill considered to be stymied by bureaucratism and not suitable when victimsneeded to be taken out of their home to protect their lives.
Currently, administrative sanctions in domestic violenceprevention are inconsistent with the Vietnam Penal Code.
The Penal Code stipulates that "anyone who seriouslyoffends the dignity and honour of another person will be subject to a warningor a fine of 10-30 million VND or a non-custodial reform for up to threeyears".
Meanwhile, offending the dignity and honour of another personis a form of mental violence, but the fine for this act when carried out by afamily member was only 500,000 -1,500,000 VND per Article 51 of Decree167/2013/NĐ-CP on administrative sanctions for domestic violence.
In many cases, the victims of violence who were the spouse orparent have to pay the fine or take money from the family expenditure fund.
This stopped victims from denouncing the perpetrators.
Many countries have replaced the fines with compulsory education,the report said./.
The ministry’s report, which reviewed 12 years ofimplementing the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, showed thatabout 300,000 cases relating to domestic violence were reported nationwide in2009-2019.
In 10 years, among nearly 1.4 million divorces, more than 1million stemmed from domestic violence.
There were nearly 25,000 victims treated in medicalestablishments and 19,000 others were provided support by social welfarefacilities.
The ministry said in 2009-2019, there were more than 33,000cases of domestic violence that perpetrators were handled by authorities.
However, measures handling the perpetrators were mainly inthe forms of comments, conciliation and criticism in residential areas, andadministrative sanctions in the form of warning or fines. Those measuresaccounted for 73.6 percent.
Only in cases of intentional injury, torture, destruction ofproperty, or murder were criminal charges brought.
The ministry admitted that comments, conciliation, criticismin the community, and administrative sanctions did not ensure deterrence.Besides, administrative procedures and conditions for handling domesticviolence cases were still quite complex, especially provisions on writingdenunciations.
Many victims were reluctant to contact authorities becausethey did not know how to present their situation and were even threatened bythe perpetrators if they spoke up.
Efforts to ban perpetrators from contacting their victimshave also been hamstrung, as often the victim of abuse is the one forced toleave their house. This can result in stigma from both their family and society.
In addition, victim support facilities did not operateeffectively, with some facilities only listed in the law but not operating inpractice.
Supporting victims of domestic violence in emergencies wasstill considered to be stymied by bureaucratism and not suitable when victimsneeded to be taken out of their home to protect their lives.
Currently, administrative sanctions in domestic violenceprevention are inconsistent with the Vietnam Penal Code.
The Penal Code stipulates that "anyone who seriouslyoffends the dignity and honour of another person will be subject to a warningor a fine of 10-30 million VND or a non-custodial reform for up to threeyears".
Meanwhile, offending the dignity and honour of another personis a form of mental violence, but the fine for this act when carried out by afamily member was only 500,000 -1,500,000 VND per Article 51 of Decree167/2013/NĐ-CP on administrative sanctions for domestic violence.
In many cases, the victims of violence who were the spouse orparent have to pay the fine or take money from the family expenditure fund.
This stopped victims from denouncing the perpetrators.
Many countries have replaced the fines with compulsory education,the report said./.
VNA
