Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08HANOI750, NGOs, Vietnam Women's Union Address Domestic Violence

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08HANOI750.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08HANOI750 2008-06-25 07:56 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Hanoi
VZCZCXRO2582
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0750/01 1770756
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250756Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8069
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4890
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 000750 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, G/IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KWMN PGOV VM
SUBJECT: NGOs, Vietnam Women's Union Address Domestic Violence 
Prevention 
 
REF: A) 07 HANOI 2011, B) HANOI 0749 
 
HANOI 00000750  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
1. (U) SUMMARY:  During her June 9-11 visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh 
City, Andrea Bottner, Senior Coordinator, Office of International 
Women's Issues, participated in roundtable discussions with the 
Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) and local and international NGOs, 
visited to two women's shelters hotlines for domestic violence and 
human trafficking victims.  Vietnamese interlocutors provided 
extensive background about the challenges of addressing domestic 
violence in Vietnam, including the need for shelters for victims and 
lack of public awareness.  End Summary. 
 
VWU Domestic Violence Shelter 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (U) The VWU and the National Committee for the Advancement of 
Women in Hanoi conducted a lively discussion on the need for an 
effective shelter system in Vietnam, as well as the need for trained 
social workers to provide counseling and other services.  Ms. 
Bottner shared the U.S. experience with shelters, noting that these 
facilities began as emergency services for women in crisis, but now 
offer an expanded array of services based on the needs of the 
victims, including health, counseling, legal aid, and employment 
services.  Today, U.S. shelters are striving to reach isolated 
communities and improve service delivery to underserved populations. 
 
 
3. (U) Ms. Le Thi Thuy, Director of the Center for Women and 
Development (CWD), a sub-organization of the VWU, explained that 
Vietnam has one pilot shelter in Hanoi - the "Peace House Project." 
Peace House has served forty women and children since it first 
opened in March 2007 and is an early first step in building a system 
of shelters to provide counseling and assistance to victims of 
domestic violence.  The Peace House slogan, "You are not alone, we 
are beside you," is aimed at encouraging women to have the 
self-confidence to come forward and seek help when they are being 
abused. 
 
4. (U) Along with providing free accommodation, access to health 
care, legal aid, and group activities for victims of domestic 
violence, the project also provides counseling services and 
information on the prevention of domestic violence, drug use, human 
trafficking, and HIV/AIDS.  Peace House residents may choose to work 
at the CWD guest house so that they can begin to earn their own 
money.  Ms. Thuy cited good coordination with the local hospital and 
local lawyers, but emphasized that the project is still sensitive 
and not publicly known.  While access is usually only provided to 
donors, Ms. Bottner's group toured the facility and spoke with its 
staff and several residents. 
 
5. (U) Ms. Bottner praised these efforts, highlighting that Vietnam 
has taken an important first step in providing what women in abusive 
situations need - a safe place to go.  To the great interest of the 
VWU, Ms. Bottner provided a detailed explanation of the Family 
Justice Center (FJC) model in the U.S., explaining that an FJC 
strives to provide all services a victim might need under one roof, 
including to those women who may not be ready to leave an abusive 
situation and enter a shelter.  Given the cultural importance of 
family unity, the VWU suggested this model may work well in 
addressing the needs of domestic violence victims who may not be 
prepared leave an abusive partner for fear of shaming their family 
or community. 
 
6. (U) Ms. Green, a member of Ms. Bottner's party, explained that 
Second Chance Employment Services (SCES), the U.S.-based NGO she 
leads, seeks to provide services for victims who have moved beyond 
the crisis stage by working with businesses and service providers in 
the community.  The VWU Family Department showed particular interest 
in SCES's ability to provide services free of charge (providers work 
pro bono).  Ms. Green clarified that SCES is mostly privately 
funded, but has received USG grant money.  She also explained that 
SCES's strong working relationship with law enforcement is a key 
part of its enduring success. 
 
Engagement with the DV Prevention Network 
----------------------------------------- 
 
7. (U) In an animated roundtable discussion hosted by the Center for 
Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender-Family-Women and Adolescents 
(CSAGA), Ms. Bottner and members Domestic Violence Prevention 
Network in Vietnam (DOVIPNET) shared experiences and highlighted 
ongoing challenges in combating domestic violence. 
 
8. (U) Background note:  CSAGA is a Vietnamese NGO whose mission is 
to increase awareness and resolve problems related to gender, 
family, women and adolescents by reaching out through counseling, 
communication and training.  DOVIPNET, established on October 27, 
2007 (largely due to the efforts of CSAGA's director, Ms. Nguyen Van 
 
HANOI 00000750  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Anh), is a network of individuals, domestic and international NGOs, 
and foreign donors, who share experiences and initiatives and work 
together on domestic violence issues.  End background note. 
 
9. (U) The group discussion initially focused on public awareness, 
education, and training.  A Project Officer from a local NGO, 
Consultation of Investment in Health Promotion, Ms. Quang Thu Trang, 
discussed a project in Vietnam's Central highlands, noting their 
efforts to convince local authorities that domestic violence is not 
a one family problem but an issue for the whole community.  Success 
in changing attitudes is one of the main factors in evaluating the 
success of their projects. 
 
10. (U) ActionAid, an international NGO, conducts training for the 
VWU at local levels and local public awareness campaigns.  Ms. Tran 
Tu Hang, ActionAid Project Officer, highlighted one project wherein 
the entire community participated in a creative writing campaign on 
the theme of domestic violence.  Ms. Van Anh also noted CSAGA's work 
to improve mass media coverage of the issue, including trying to 
educate and train reporters on domestic violence. 
 
11. (U) Ms. To Thi Bay, Program Officer with the Mennonite Central 
Committee, commented that NGO efforts are vital as the GVN often 
focuses training efforts on mediation and resolution in an attempt 
to keep families together.  Ms. Bay criticized this approach, noting 
that women facing violence need to leave abusive situations first 
and consider reconciliation attempts after they are safe.  The 
Institute for Social Development Studies representative, Dr. Khuat 
Tu Hong, agreed, stating that the goal is a safe family, not just 
keeping a family together.  She added her criticism of the 
reconciliation committees, noting that they sometimes encourage 
women to stay in abusive situations in order to keep families 
together.  The community leaders want harmonious families in order 
to keep the peace in the community.  "Civil society must be 
engaged," stated Dr. Hong, "women have been waiting too long for the 
government to do something about this problem." 
 
12. (U) Many participants agreed on the need to provide women a safe 
environment, even in the absence of a shelter system.  ActionAid, 
for example, set up clubs for women to share their experiences and 
support each other.  Several participants also have similar projects 
in rural communities and underscored the importance of establishing 
groups that meet regularly to allow victims sufficient time to 
become confident enough to speak out.  (Note:  Following the 
discussion, Ms. Bottner's group toured the CSAGA hotline facility, 
chatting to volunteers manning the phones.  The crisis hotline was 
established in 1997 and now has two numbers - one for domestic 
violence victims and one for trafficking victims.  End note.) 
 
13. (SBU) In HCMC, conflicting opinions regarding cultural attitudes 
and family reconciliation were themes in discussions with NGOs.  A 
HCMC Women's Union official noted that part of their efforts to 
prevent domestic violence included classes on beauty and cooking to 
"help wives make husbands happier."  Several NGOs representatives 
emphasized that reconciliation should be the primary goal when 
dealing with cases of domestic violence.  While admitting that this 
complicated the development of a formal shelter system to support 
victims of domestic violence who may need to leave their home, 
several NGO representatives explained that there is a network of 
"Reliable Addresses," where a victim can go to the home of a 
community leader, who will help with the reconciliation process, or 
call in the authorities as warranted (ref B).  Others advocated for 
services based on victims needs, including shelters or employment 
services, even if it meant the couples would not be reconciled.  A 
number of NGO leaders agreed with the view of some GVN officials 
that domestic violence could be the result of external factors, like 
poverty, economic changes, alcoholism and conflicts with in-laws, 
rather than recognizing the behavioral issues and putting the 
appropriate blame on the abuser.  While attitudes are still 
evolving, all of the HCMC NGO representatives present voiced a 
strong commitment to combat domestic violence and raise public 
awareness. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
14. (SBU) Local and international NGOs are clearly rising to the 
challenge of domestic violence prevention and in some cases, leading 
the charge.  However, entrenched cultural attitudes, the low level 
of public awareness, challenges associated with coordination between 
the the GVN and NGOs, donors, health care professionals, and other 
service providers, a lack of resources, and the need for trained 
social workers and counselors to build and maintain a viable shelter 
system in Vietnam mean that advocacy organizations still have their 
work cut out for them.  Implementing the DV law will require the 
active engagement of NGOs, the Vietnam Women's Union and others in 
the advocacy community to effectively combat domestic violence over 
the long term.  Key NGOs understand the complexity of the problem 
 
HANOI 00000750  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
sufficiently to educate those driving the legal implementation 
process forward.  The high level of engagement and interest from the 
Vietnam Women's Union and the Center for Women and Development also 
bodes well for greater progress on this issue.  Ms. Bottner's visit 
highlighted the importance to the U.S. of combating domestic 
violence and lent significant credibility to those organizations at 
the forefront of the issue.  End comment. 
 
15. (U) This cable was jointly prepared with ConGen Ho Chi Minh City 
and cleared by G/IWI. 
 
ALOISI