Addressing the event, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Director General of the Department, underlined that sexual abuse remains a serious violation of human dignity and fundamental rights, with particularly concerning impacts on children and other vulnerable groups. She noted that evolving forms of abuse, including offences facilitated through digital platforms, are creating new challenges for law enforcement, victim protection and the collection of electronic evidence. The workshop was therefore convened to review international legal standards, assess implementation challenges, and identify practical recommendations for the continued improvement of Vietnam’s legal framework.
Representing Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Vietnam, Ms. Nguyen Minh Tuyen-Office Manager, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to promoting the rule of law, good governance and international policy dialogue. She emphasized that comparative legal research and international exchange offer valuable opportunities to share experiences, identify emerging challenges and explore policy options that can support effective and context-appropriate legal reforms.
Throughout the workshop, participants examined international legal instruments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons (ACTIP), and the recently adopted UN Convention against Cybercrime, while discussing comparative experiences from Germany and other jurisdictions. Particular attention was paid to legal approaches addressing online sexual abuse, victim-centred justice, child protection mechanisms, and the effective use of electronic evidence in criminal proceedings.
The discussions highlighted a growing international trend toward strengthening victim protection alongside criminal accountability. Participants emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation among judicial institutions, law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, social services and child protection authorities. They also exchanged views on measures to reduce secondary victimization, improve access to legal and psychological support, and enhance safeguards for privacy and dignity throughout legal proceedings.
A recurring theme was the need to ensure that legal frameworks keep pace with technological change. Experts discussed challenges arising from online grooming, non-consensual dissemination of intimate images, child sexual exploitation materials, and other forms of abuse facilitated through digital platforms. Strengthening procedures for collecting, preserving and evaluating electronic evidence was identified as an increasingly important component of effective legal responses.
The workshop forms part of the longstanding cooperation between KAS Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam under the bilateral Rule of Law Dialogue. By facilitating evidence-based policy discussions and comparative legal analysis, the partnership continues to contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen legal institutions, improve the protection of vulnerable groups, and advance the development of a modern and effective rule-of-law framework in Vietnam.