Legal Aid for Domestic Violence Victims in Vietnam: Comparative Insights from International Legislative Instruments

Bich Ngoc Nguyen, Tuan Van Vu, Tuan Van Vu

Resumo


Domestic violence remains a pervasive human rights concern that demands integrated legal and social responses. Legal aid plays a critical role in enabling survivors to access justice, yet the effectiveness of such provision varies considerably across jurisdictions. This article examines the extent to which Vietnam’s legal aid framework for domestic violence survivors aligns with internationally recognised standards and identifies areas for further development. Adopting a qualitative comparative research design, the study conducts documentary and textual analysis of national legislation, key international instruments – including the Istanbul Convention and UNODC guidance – and relevant regional frameworks issued by AICHR. The findings reveal that Vietnam has made notable progress in establishing a legislative foundation consistent with global principles of accessibility and state responsibility. However, meaningful alignment remains constrained by limited integration of survivor-centred approaches, inconsistent service quality, and uneven implementation across regions. Moreover, gaps persist in specialised training, multi-agency coordination, and outreach to marginalised communities. The article concludes that Vietnam’s legal aid system possesses a promising platform for further harmonisation with international standards, yet sustained institutional reform, capacity-building, and culturally responsive practice are required to ensure that legal aid becomes genuinely accessible, effective, and empowering for domestic violence survivors.

Palavras-chave


domestic violence, Istanbul Convention, gender equality, legal aid, policy reform

Texto completo:

PDF (English)

Referências


Ahmed, Shakeel. “Domestic Violence and Women’s Health: Evidence from NFHS-5 Survey Data.” Deleted Journal 22, no. 1 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00973-0

ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Thematic Study on Legal Aid. 2019. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://aichr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/AICHR-Thematic-Study-on-Legal-Aid-for-web.pdf.

Belknap, Joanne, and Darrell Grant. “Domestic Violence Policy: A World of Change.” Feminist Criminology 16, no. 3 (2021): 382–395. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557085120987610.

Chen, Yue. “Domestic Violence in Asian Communities: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Literature.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 25, no. 5 (2024): 3814–3826. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380241263313.

Council of Europe. The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). 2011. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://rm.coe.int/ic-and-explanatory-report/16808d24c6.

Dang, Truc Ngoc Hoang, and Duc Dung Le. “Socioeconomic Inequalities in Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence From Vietnam.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 40, no. 1–2 (April 15, 2024): 31–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241245375.

Ganguli, Priyanka. “Legal Responses to Domestic Violence: Efficacy and Challenges.” LawFoyer International Journal of Doctrinal Legal Research 2, no. 3 (2024): 279–298. https://doi.org/10.70183/lijdlr.2024.v02.17.

Harris, Bridget, Molly Dragiewicz, and Delia Woodlock. “Technology, Domestic Violence Advocacy and the Sustainable Development Goals.” In Emerald Publishing Limited eBooks, 295–313, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78769-355-520201017.

Henry, Nicola, Sofia Vasil, Alice Flynn, Karen Kellard, and Christin Mortreux. “Technology-Facilitated Domestic Violence Against Immigrant and Refugee Women: A Qualitative Study.” Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37, nos. 13–14 (2021): NP12634–NP12660. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211001465.

Hunter, Rosemary, Adrienne Barnett, and Felicity Kaganas. “Introduction: Contact and Domestic Abuse.” Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 40, no. 4 (2018): 401–425. https://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2018.1519155.

Jaising, Indira, Anuradha Basu, and Bina Dutta. Domestic Violence Legislation and Its Implementation. Edited by Adya Darisuren and Sara Fortuna. UN Women, 2011. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/resource/domestic-violence-legislation-implementation.pdf.

Kanbur, Nilay. “Istanbul Convention: Commitment to Preventing Gender-Based Violence.” Journal of Adolescent Health 69, no. 2 (2021): 354–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.009.

Krizsán, Andrea, Conny Roggeband, and Maria C. Zeller. “Who Is Afraid of the Istanbul Convention? Explaining Opposition to and Support for Gender Equality.” Comparative Political Studies 58, no. 10 (2024): 2161–2201. https://doi.org/10.1177/00104140241290205.

Kwiatkowski, Lynn. “The Politics of Emotion and Domestic Violence in Northern Vietnam.” Feminist Anthropology 5, no. 1 (2024): 29–46. https://doi.org/10.1002/fea2.12142.

Le, Dang-Quang, Ha-An Nguyen, Dan-Tam Pham Nguyen, and Ngan P. Nguyen. “Perceptions, Attitudes, and Experiences of Domestic Violence Among Vietnamese University Students.” SSM – Mental Health 6 (2024): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2024.100334

Le, Thi Minh, Christine Morley, Peter S. Hill, Quyen Tu Bui, and Michael P. Dunne. “The Evolution of Domestic Violence Prevention and Control in Vietnam from 2003 to 2018: A Case Study of Policy Development and Implementation Within the Health System.” International Journal of Mental Health Systems 13, no. 1 (2019): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-019-0295-6.

Mambu, Joupy G.Z, and Novita Marven Mongdong. “The Influence of International Human Rights Instruments on Domestic Legislation: A Comparative Study of Four Countries.” The Easta Journal Law and Human Rights 1, no. 03 (2023): 99–107. https://doi.org/10.58812/eslhr.v1i03.86.

Maruo, Maria, Diana J. Arango, Ana M. D. M. Grossi, and Monica Contreras-Urbina. Addressing Gender-Based Violence to Accelerate Gender Equality: Gender Thematic Policy Notes Series: Issues and Practice. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023.

McIlwaine, Cathy. “Not as Safe as Houses: Experiences of Domestic Violence Among International Migrant Women.” In Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, 232–248, 2023. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789908732.00022.

Murshid, Nadine S., Suruchi Richards-Desai, and Amanda Irish. “Economic Empowerment in the Context of Domestic Violence and Abuse.” In Routledge eBooks, 575–589, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429331053-42.

Nardocci, Chiara. “The Istanbul Convention: Yes and Nos.” ERA Forum 26 (2025): 127–147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12027-025-00831-1.

Nayak, Sasmita S., Xhelil Efimov, Chido N. Ncube, Jasmine Griffith, and Beth E. Molnar. “‘No Safe Spaces’: The Retraumatization and Dehumanization of Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence in the United States.” Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies (2023): 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2023.2278055.

Nguyen, Minh, and Khanh Le. “Can Legislation Reduce Domestic Violence in Developing Countries?” Sustainability 14, no. 20 (2022): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013300.

Rhode, Deborah L., Kayla Eaton, and Amanda Porto. “Access to Justice Through Limited Legal Assistance.” Northwestern Journal of Human Rights 16, no. 1 (2018): 1–14. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1208&context=njihr.

Samuel, Geoffrey. An Introduction to Comparative Law Theory and Method. Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2014.

Said, Muhammad H. B., and Kelvin G. Emmanuel. “Domestic Violence in Cross-Border Marriages: A Systematic Review.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 24, no. 3 (2022): 1483–1502. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221074321.

Schucan, Barbara K., Nicole Stokes, Cristina Rivas, Mark Tomlinson, Megan Delve, Laura Gordon, Amy Gregory, Kate Lawrence, and Niamh O’Reilly. “Training Informal Supporters to Improve Responses to Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review.” Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 25, no. 2 (2023): 1568–1584. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231189191.

Sidayang, Sari, Maria J. Sumanta, Clarisa K. P. Calya, and Sally Mokodenseho. “Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Comparative Analysis of International Legal Frameworks and Practices.” The Easta Journal Law and Human Rights 1, no. 3 (2023): 147–157. https://doi.org/10.58812/eslhr.v1i03.91.

Speed, Aisha. “Domestic Abuse and the Provision of Advocacy Services: Mapping Support for Victims in Family Proceedings in England and Wales.” Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law 44, no. 3 (2022): 347–368. https://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2022.2126605.

The National Assembly of Vietnam, “Law on Legal Aid (Law No. 11/2017/QH14),” promulgated June 20, 2017. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=190303.

The National Assembly of Vietnam, “Law on Prevention and Combat Against Domestic Violence (Law No. 13/2022/QH15),” promulgated November 14, 2022. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2023/4/luat13.pdf.

Trang, Le Thi. “Legal Framework on Family Violence Prevention and Control in Vietnam and Singapore from the Perspective of Protecting Women's Rights.” Pakistan Journal of Criminology 16, no. 4 (2024): 865–877. https://doi.org/10.62271/pjc.16.4.865.877.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems. 2012. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/UN_principles_and_guidlines_on_access_to_legal_aid.pdf.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). UNODC Model Law on Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems with Commentaries. 2017. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/LegalAid/Model_Law_on_Legal_Aid.pdf.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). UNODC Handbook on Ensuring Quality of Legal Aid Services in Criminal Justice Systems. 2019. Accessed February 2, 2025. https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/HB_Ensuring_Quality_Legal_Aid_Services.pdf.

Yount, Kathryn M., Katherine M. Anderson, Quach Thu Trang, and Irina Bergenfeld. “Preventing Sexual Violence in Vietnam: Qualitative Findings from High School, University, and Civil Society Key Informants Across Regions.” BMC Public Health 23, no. 1 (2023): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15973-5.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.5102/rdi.v22i3.10352

ISSN 2236-997X (impresso) - ISSN 2237-1036 (on-line)

Desenvolvido por:

Logomarca da Lepidus Tecnologia