Why is global activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women important? What is Aus4Transport doing to contribute?
A widespread violation of Human Rights
Did you know that one in three women, worldwide, will experience some form of gender-based violence in their life, usually at the hands of an intimate partner? This statistic is not only significant, but it is also very scary and brings with it huge costs – physical, emotional, and economic. In Vietnam, according to a 2019 nationwide survey of women and girls[1], almost 63%, that’s nearly two in every three women that have ever been married (or in a de-facto/committed relationship) reported having experienced violence from a man at some stage in their lifetime – and more than one in three in the preceding 12 months. Violence against women continues to be one of the most persistent and widespread violations of human rights in our world today. Although vulnerable women (including young girls, elderly and people with disabilities) are more at risk, violence against women and girls (VAWG) does not discriminate based on age, social status, ability or disability, it is everywhere.
Recognising this, and working to raise awareness and end VAWG, November 25 has been designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of 16 days of action to end gender-based violence that culminates on 10 December, the International Day for Human Rights. You may ask, why is this important? Why do we need an international day and an official campaign of activism to eliminate violence against women? Isn’t this a family and personal problem, rather than a community or international one? And aren’t there enough preventative measures in place already?
The answer is quite simple: NO. The reality is, that despite continued efforts and increased awareness, the rates of VAWG remain stubbornly high, and the costs to society – physical, emotional and economic – are significant. Further, what we do know about the extent of this problem is likely just the tip of the iceberg – violence against women and girls continues to be underreported due to the impunity, stigma and shame surrounding it, particularly for survivors. Until all women are trusted, their concerns respected, and real action taken to address violence against women and girls and prosecute and punish perpetrators, such violence will continue to burden not just the victim and their family but also the economy. The cost of this, in terms of lost productivity, was estimated at 1.8% of GDP in 2018. As we know that violence against women is underreported, it is safe to say that this is likely an underestimation and the real cost is much higher.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world have imposed strict lockdown and stay at home orders and many people have reported high levels of emotional and economic stress. These factors combined have only increased violence against women, with help lines and emergency shelters all around the world reporting substantial increases in calls to their services.
What does gender-based violence have to do with transport?
While the relationship between transport infrastructure and gender-based violence is not immediately obvious, unfortunately, it is very real. Transport is traditionally a male-dominated field, which, together with the weight of specific cultural gender stereotypes and the quite diverse socio-economic circumstances for men and women, creates an environment that is very susceptible to violence against women.
For example, the construction phase of a transport project requires a large, mostly male workforce. Many of these men will temporarily relocate to the construction site from other locations in the country and across the region to work on the project for the construction period. This influx of itinerant workers, who are generally unaccompanied and have high disposable incomes, can change the dynamics in the local community around the infrastructure project. These drastically shifted dynamics increase the risk of sexual harassment, violence and exploitative or transactional relationships in the community around the project. Local women are at risk, particularly in remote and isolated areas where their awareness of their rights and personal agency may be limited. Workers, particularly women immersed in a male-dominated working environment, are not immune to these risks. They can also be subjected to sexual harassment, abuse, and discrimination. Changes in income generation and responsibility in the household can also lead to increased domestic stress and, in some cases, violence.
Aus4Transport, the transport partnership between the Government of Australia and the Government of Vietnam, is inherently aware of these risks and we take proactive steps to avoid, mitigate and respond to them. The Program has prepared guidance on the management of social impacts associated with temporary project-related labour influx to civil works contractors on significant projects, like the Central Highlands Connectivity Project (CHCIP). We ensure that our guidance supports construction partners to be aware of and understand these risks, and we assist them to develop appropriate labour management policies and procedures, including around gender awareness training, zero-tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment and worksite, particularly labour camp establishment and operation.
AUS4TRANSPORT’S proactive steps to avoid, mitigate and respond to Violence Against Women and Girls
Understanding the increased risk of HIV transmission and human trafficking for women and girls in the remote communities around road construction areas, as part of the Northern Mountain Provinces Transport Connectivity Project (NMPTCP), Aus4Transport has designed a HIV/AIDS and Human Trafficking Awareness Program to raise awareness of the local community and at-risk populations, such as construction workers, sex-workers and injecting drug users, in three northern mountain provinces of Lai Chau, Yen Bai and Lao Cai. This awareness program will run for three years, the whole period of construction, and benefit 68,000 people, mainly local ethnic minorities.
In addition, Aus4Transport has conducted social surveys specifically designed to help us understand the different transport needs of men and women, young and old, able and disabled road users in both the Central Highlands and Northern Mountains areas to better understand the safety and security concerns of different road users, including women, and inform the engineering designs of the CHCIP and NMPTCP road upgrades. Their insights were particularly useful to ensure safe placement of lights, bus stops and parking areas.
Furthermore, and in preparation for the upgrading of a strategic an inland waterway in the Mekong Delta in 2022, we are developing labour management procedures to minimise the risk of sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation as part of the Southern Waterways Logistics Corridor Project. Aus4Transport will review labour law and international best practice on Addressing Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Harassment in Investment Projects. The team will consult with local authorities, women’s unions and local community to put in place policies and procedures to guide and support effective management of relationships between workers and local community, including among other things a code of conduct and management of gender-based violence grievances.
Another important action taken by Aus4Transport towards the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls was the provision of gender awareness training for the staff of the Ministry of Transport, as part of the CHCIP and the NMPCTP activities. The gender-focused training included a detailed module on managing and mitigating the risk of sexual and gender-based violence associated with transport projects and targeted more than 400 officials from the Ministry of Transport and other relevant agencies.
The work mentioned above shows Aus4Transport’s strong commitment to ensuring the social, and often less visible (but no less important), aspects of transport infrastructure development are comprehensively addressed throughout all of the Program’s activities. Thus, while it is important to use campaigns such as #OrangeTheWorld and #16Days to raise awareness of violence against women, it is equally important to take concrete steps and actions every day that will help to finally bring an end to this expensive and pervasive issue, allowing women and girls to live in a world where they are safe and able to contribute to society to their highest capacities without fear.
[1] National Study on Violence Against Women Viet Nam in 2019 (published in 2020), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), General Statistics Office (GSO), and UNFPA with support from DFAT.
