HUST Empowers Student Voices in Preventing Gender-Based Violence in the Cyberspace

On December 11, over 1,000 students from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and other universities in Hanoi participated in the program “Dialogue: Strengthening Youth Voices on Prevention and Response to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence.” The event was jointly organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Center for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender - Family - Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

The program was organized to promote youth voices and strengthen dialogue among stakeholders to build a safe, respectful, and non-violent digital environment for women, girls, and all users.

Accordingly, the seminar contributed to the implementation of the Hanoi Convention on cybercrime prevention and control, while responding to the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2025. The program focused on enhancing the capacity of youth to identify, prevent, and report acts of gender-based violence in cyberspace, alongside promoting interdisciplinary policy dialogue aimed at strengthening effective coordinated actions.
  Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Pham Thanh Huyen – Head of the Department of Student Affairs at HUST, emphasized: "Beside learning and creative opportunities, the digital environment also harbors increasingly complex risks, among which technology-facilitated gender-based violence is becoming a major concern for youth and students. The University always prioritizes building a safe, humane, and respectful learning environment; simultaneously strengthening education on digital skills, digital ethics, and behavioral culture in cyberspace, as well as developing psychological support channels for students."

Assoc. Prof. Pham Thanh Huyen also affirmed that to effectively prevent and respond to TF-GBV (Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence), close interdisciplinary cooperation is needed between educational institutions, state management agencies, international organizations, technology companies, and especially the active participation of the youth themselves. Students are not merely technology users; they are future engineers and creators capable of contributing technological solutions to protect vulnerable groups and build a safe digital environment for the entire society.

Deputy Country Director of KOICA Vietnam, Mr. Lee Gunwoo, shared: "KOICA is proud to accompany Vietnam and UNFPA in strengthening youth capacity and building a safe and healthy digital space. Protecting women and girls from technological violence is a shared responsibility of the entire society."

Within the framework of the program, a lively interdisciplinary dialogue session took place with the participation of representatives from CSAGA, UNFPA, the Ministry of Education and Training, state management agencies, and the technology company Meta. The speakers discussed the current status of TF-GBV, policy gaps, as well as youth-led initiatives and solutions to effectively prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the digital environment.

Ms. Dang Thi Huyen, Assistant Representative of UNFPA in Vietnam, emphasized: "Ending technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) involving youth must start with the very voices and leadership of the youth. You are not just technology users; you are the architects of the digital future."

The highlight of the seminar was the "Youth Voices" section, where student representatives presented initiatives and recommendations to stakeholders, demonstrating the proactive role and responsibility of young people in building a safe, respectful, and humane digital culture.
  Ms. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director of CSAGA, affirmed: "We believe that every youth voice has value. When given the opportunity, you are the force leading changes in awareness and behavior in cyberspace."

Through the seminar, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and CSAGA affirmed their commitment to continue accompanying youth in raising awareness, promoting policy dialogue, and implementing practical solutions to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, aiming to build a safe digital environment for everyone.

Previously, on December 7, the event "NextGen for Digital Safety – Action for Digital Safety for Women and Girls," part of a series of activities to strengthen youth participation, attracted over 3,000 students from Hanoi University of Science and Technology and many other universities in Hanoi. The event created a space for experience, interaction, and sharing of knowledge, initiatives, and practical recommendations, contributing to spreading the message of saying no to gender-based violence, especially technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Some images of activities at the program: