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Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh (right) presents a Certificate of Merit to MVFA President Tran Thi Chang. (Photo: VNA)
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The event attracted the attention of thousands of Vietnamese women living and working in Malaysia, especially the forum on “Protecting the rights and legal interests of Vietnamese women and children in Malaysia,” held in the framework of the program.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the program, MVFA President Tran Thi Chang said that about 30% of more than 30,000 overseas Vietnamese people in the country are Vietnamese women married to local people. Most of these women are hardworking and successful, contributing positively to local society. However, many face unfortunate circumstances due to a lack of legal knowledge and language barriers.
When facing domestic violence, or being deceived, these women often suffer in silence or do not know how to protect their legal rights, thus MVFA invited lawyers and officials responsible for these issues in Malaysia to participate in the forum and address their questions. It also offered an opportunity to raise awareness among the attendees, helping them feel more confident and to better integrate into local society, Ms. Chang added.
During the 90-minute forum, other issues including domestic violence, labour exploitation, and sexual abuse in the workplace were also mentioned.
Ms. Hirdawati Mohd Isa, the Police Chief responsible for women and children's protection, said that Vietnamese women facing such issues should report to the nearest police station to receive protection and support from Malaysia's legal authorities.
Malaysia has shelters to protect these cases. In addition, Vietnamese women needing help can call the hotline numbers for support, she added.
At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Ngoc Linh highly appreciated MVFA's initiative in organizing the event, adding that it helped strengthen confidence and cohesion among women members and the Vietnamese community in Malaysia.
He expressed his hope that MVFA will continue to promote its role in social activities, promoting connections and building a sustainable community while promoting gender equality.
The Ambassador affirmed that the embassy will accompany MVFA as the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part of the nation.
On this occasion, Ao Dai designer Vinh Quang presented a collection called “Vietnamese Soul,” which was applauded by Vietnamese women and foreigners at the event./.