Sexuality, a sensitive topic in Vietnamese society, was for the firsttime the theme of a national conference which ended in Hanoi on Nov. 9.
The two-day national symposium titled "Negotiating sexualities in movingspaces" marked crucial progress in the research of sexuality inVietnam, said Dr Le Bach Duong, director of the Institute for SocialDevelopment Studies.
"The conference recognisedrecent research conducted by scientists and social activists in Vietnamaffirming the importance of sexuality, a sensitive and controversialtopic in our society," he said.
Although sexualityis increasingly discussed in seminars and conferences across thecountry, it remains a secondary topic that doesn't receive the attentionit warrants.
However, this was put right at theconference with discussions focusing on the diversity of sexuality,sexuality of minority groups, sexual violence, sex on the internet, andthe right to choose one's sexuality.
Theconference, coorganised by the Institute for Social Development Studiesand the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population, aimedto create a forum for researchers, teachers and campaigners to sharetheir concerns and network with each other.
Theevent, which drew more than 120 participants from across the country,was also expected to encourage open and straightforward narrativethroughout society about sexuality and sexual health, promote genderequality and improve the lives of Vietnamese people.
Dr Khuat Thu Hong, deputy director of the Institute for SocialDevelopment Studies, said changes have been noticed over the last twodecades, starting in 1990 when sexuality first became an academic topicin Viet Nam.
"Sexuality used to be discussed only interms of health or family planning but is now considered from aperspective of happiness," she said.
Research onsexuality in Vietnam, which used to be seen as legal only if conductedto tackle so-called "social evils", provides an indispensable insightinto basic human rights, said Hong.
Heterosexualityused to be regarded as the only form of sexuality, but now research inthe area is concentrated on proving that homosexuality and other typesof sexuality are paralleling spaces and have a right to exist, she said./.
The two-day national symposium titled "Negotiating sexualities in movingspaces" marked crucial progress in the research of sexuality inVietnam, said Dr Le Bach Duong, director of the Institute for SocialDevelopment Studies.
"The conference recognisedrecent research conducted by scientists and social activists in Vietnamaffirming the importance of sexuality, a sensitive and controversialtopic in our society," he said.
Although sexualityis increasingly discussed in seminars and conferences across thecountry, it remains a secondary topic that doesn't receive the attentionit warrants.
However, this was put right at theconference with discussions focusing on the diversity of sexuality,sexuality of minority groups, sexual violence, sex on the internet, andthe right to choose one's sexuality.
Theconference, coorganised by the Institute for Social Development Studiesand the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population, aimedto create a forum for researchers, teachers and campaigners to sharetheir concerns and network with each other.
Theevent, which drew more than 120 participants from across the country,was also expected to encourage open and straightforward narrativethroughout society about sexuality and sexual health, promote genderequality and improve the lives of Vietnamese people.
Dr Khuat Thu Hong, deputy director of the Institute for SocialDevelopment Studies, said changes have been noticed over the last twodecades, starting in 1990 when sexuality first became an academic topicin Viet Nam.
"Sexuality used to be discussed only interms of health or family planning but is now considered from aperspective of happiness," she said.
Research onsexuality in Vietnam, which used to be seen as legal only if conductedto tackle so-called "social evils", provides an indispensable insightinto basic human rights, said Hong.
Heterosexualityused to be regarded as the only form of sexuality, but now research inthe area is concentrated on proving that homosexuality and other typesof sexuality are paralleling spaces and have a right to exist, she said./.
