Building a safe cyberspace for the healthy development of women and children

On March 28, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Public Security, with the support of UN Women and UNESCO, organized an international workshop with the theme: Protecting women and children in cyberspace.

Xây dựng một không gian mạng an toàn cho sự phát triển lành mạnh của phụ nữ và trẻ em

Overview of the International Conference: Protecting Women and Children in Cyberspace on March 28 in Hanoi. (Source: UN Women)

The International Workshop: Protecting Women and Children in Cyberspace brought together law enforcement officers, policy makers, education experts, representatives of United Nations (UN) agencies in Vietnam such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); representatives of the Embassies of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan and the United States in Vietnam; along with researchers, lecturers and students from the Women's Academy, the People's Police Academy, the People's Security Academy, Hanoi Capital University, Hanoi University of Industry, Viettel Telecommunications Company...

The workshop is a forum to discuss the increasing risks in cyberspace, especially affecting women and girls in Vietnam.

In her opening remarks, UN Women Representative in Vietnam Caroline Nyamayemombe emphasized that the Workshop directly contributes to the implementation of Vietnam's first National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (NAP WPS), which is to be adopted in 2024.

Ms Caroline Nyamayemombe noted that while technology opens up many opportunities for innovation and development, women and girls are also vulnerable to online bullying and harassment, fraud and sexual abuse in cyberspace.

UN Women Representative in Vietnam Caroline Nyamayemombe delivered the opening speech at the Workshop. (Source: UN Women)

National and international experts, including representatives from UNESCO and UN Women, shared global data and good practices on technology-enabled gender-based violence (TF GBV). Globally, up to 38% of women have experienced online violence, and in Viet Nam, 21% of adolescents aged 13-24 have been bullied online (UNICEF 2019).

In light of this, UNESCO Chief of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality Justine Sass called for comprehensive approaches to ending cyber violence and emphasized the key role of education systems in building safe and gender-sensitive cyberspaces, through curricula, school policies, teacher training and student engagement.

At the workshop, delegates discussed solutions around the four pillars of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: Prevention - Protection - Participation - Relief and Recovery, with the message: “Cyber safety starts with each individual. Be proactive in identifying risks, improving self-defense skills and do not hesitate to share and seek help when needed”.

Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh Tuan, Department of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, spoke at the event.

In his closing speech, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh Tuan, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Public Security, emphasized, “What we do today will impact the world tomorrow, so the world needs to join hands to realize a safe cyberspace for the healthy development of women and children, and at the same time become an important platform to promote gender equality.”

The workshop concluded with a call for increased cross-sectoral cooperation between government agencies, families, schools, academies, technology businesses and international organisations, to ensure that women and children can participate safely, confidently and equally in Vietnam’s digital transformation process.