Pham Anh Khoa partnered with UNFPA Vietnam in the 40th anniversary of cooperation between UNFPA and the Vietnamese Government in July 2017 (Source: UNFPA)Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Vietnam said onMay 14 it had dissolved its partnership of Pham Anh Khoa as its ambassador onthe prevention of violence against women and girls in the country, in the wakeof allegations of sexual harassment against the Rock singer.
Khoa was invited to partner with UNFPA Vietnam on nationalcampaigns to address gender-based violence in 2013-2014 and the 40thanniversary of cooperation between UNFPA and the Vietnamese Government in July2017.
In April, dancer Pham Lich posted a long status on herFacebook account accusing Pham Anh Khoa of soliciting sex during his trainingtime for her in a TV game show. Some days later, another dancer, Nga My, alsosaid that Khoa had called and sent messages to her multiple times asking tocome to a hotel or his home at night.
Most recently, on May 11, an anonymous stylist also sharedher story with Zing Newspaper which said that she luckily escaped from a rapefrom Pham Anh Khoa four years ago during their trip to a music show.
Pham Anh Khoa first threatened to sue Pham Lich right aftershe brought the story to light but then made a public apology after the thirdwoman voiced his problems.
According to UNFPA, violence against women and girls is aglobal scourge. It is one of the gravest violations of human rights and aformidable obstacle in ending gender inequality.
Globally, on average, one in every three women experiencessome form of violence in her lifetime, be it physical, sexual or emotional,often at the hands of a spouse or intimate partner or a person in her immediatecircle.
In Vietnam, the National Survey on Domestic Violence againstWomen, supported by the UN in 2010, showed that 58 percent of ever-marriedwomen said that they had experienced at least one form of violence from someoneclose, at some point in their lives. Since then, a lot of work has been doneand investments made by public and non-governmental actors to raise awareness,and make legal, policy and behavioral changes to end all forms of gender-basedviolence. Progress has been made, but violence against women still remains areality at all levels of society.
Ending violence against women should be a priority foreveryone. It is indeed a stated priority with clear targets as well under the2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals thatseek ultimately to leave no one behind, UNFPA said in its press release.-VNA
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