Changing the behavior of ethnic minority people in marriage.

Launching the model — A model titled "Promoting the role of influential figures, village elders, shamans, and traditional medicine practitioners in ethnic minority areas to mobilize people to participate in ensuring security and order; preventing and combating child marriage" was launched in Quang Phong commune (Hai Ha district). *(Photo provided by the Provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion)*

Through a survey of the current situation of child marriage and consanguineous marriage, the Provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions stated that although no cases of consanguineous marriage have been detected recently, the issue of child marriage among ethnic minorities remains a potential concern. Accordingly, the Department has regularly coordinated with local authorities, the Women's Union, the Youth Union, and other relevant agencies and organizations to conduct communication campaigns through various forms, including integrated conferences, workshops, seminars, cultural exchanges, art performances, training courses, and knowledge updates; and has strengthened inspection and supervision of the implementation and compliance with legal regulations on marriage and family…

In localities with large ethnic minority populations such as Dam Ha, Hai Ha, Binh Lieu, Ba Che, Ha Long, etc., clubs have been established focusing on preventing child marriage and consanguineous marriage, pre-marital clubs, and legal aid clubs. In particular, 79 clubs dedicated to preventing child marriage and consanguineous marriage, with over 300 core members, have actively disseminated information to the community regarding the Family Law, the consequences of child marriage and consanguineous marriage, and solutions to combat these harmful practices.

In November 2023, Quang Phong commune (Hai Ha district) also launched a model titled "Promoting the role of influential people, village elders, shamans, and traditional medicine practitioners in ethnic minority areas to mobilize people to participate in ensuring security and order and combating child marriage" in 5 villages within the commune. Through this model, village elders, village heads, and influential people have played a crucial role as a channel for disseminating information, helping people improve their understanding, strictly comply with legal regulations, and eliminate outdated customs and practices, especially child marriage and consanguineous marriage.

The Department of Education and Training organized a forum for ethnic minority students to say no to child marriage and consanguineous marriage at Hoanh Mo Secondary and High School (Binh Lieu district).

Furthermore, in local areas, awareness campaigns are conducted through mass media, village loudspeaker systems, and community meetings. Each village broadcasts twice a week. The electronic portals of districts, towns, and cities, as well as the Provincial Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion, all feature special sections on reducing child marriage and consanguineous marriage.

In some communes, people have creatively transported portable loudspeakers to each residential cluster and alleyway to broadcast messages in the Dao Thanh Phan and Dao Thanh Y languages about the consequences of child marriage and the penalties for violations.

Mr. Chiu A Sy (Sieng Long village, Quang Lam commune, Dam Ha district) said: “We regularly use mobile loudspeakers to broadcast information to people in every residential area and alley. Many people don't understand Vietnamese, so we have to broadcast in the Dao Thanh Phan and Dao Thanh Y languages as well. As a result, people have a better understanding of the law regarding child marriage and consanguineous marriage. Therefore, there are now very few cases of underage marriage in the area.”

From 2021 to the present, thanks to enhanced communication efforts, the situation of child marriage and consanguineous marriage in the province has seen positive changes. While the period from 2015-2020 saw 636 cases of child marriage and 395 cases of premature birth, surveys conducted in 56 communes across 11 districts, towns, and cities of the province show that from January 2021 to the end of 2024, there were no cases of consanguineous marriage in the ethnic minority areas of the province, with only 319 cases of child marriage remaining.

The Provincial Family Planning Association conducted a communication session on reproductive health and family planning for ethnic minority women in Quang Thinh commune (Hai Ha district).

Ms. Chuy Thi Thuy (Don Dac commune, Ba Che district) shared: “Through the awareness campaigns conducted by commune officials, the Women's Union, and the Youth Union, I have gained a clearer understanding of the consequences of child marriage. I will continue to educate my relatives and sisters in the commune about the importance of not marrying before reaching the legal age.”

With many effective communication solutions, the province also focuses on and pays attention to issuing mechanisms to support vocational training, educational streaming, and career orientation counseling for young people; investing in socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas so that young people have more opportunities to study and find jobs, avoiding the idea of dropping out of school to get married early. In addition, the province also strengthens the preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in conjunction with tourism development to encourage the participation of young people in cultural, artistic, and sports movements and activities; thereby giving young people more opportunities to be educated in traditional ethics and to uphold the responsibility of preserving good culture and eliminating outdated customs.

Van Anh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/thay-doi-hanh-vi-cua-dong-bao-dtts-trong-hon-nhan-3354903.html