What is sexual abuse

The local authorities rarely speak good English, are difficult to contact and not experienced in dealing directly with foreigners so we suggest that you speak to us before attempting to contact them. Your safety and health are paramount.

Even if you decide not to report what has happened to the police, you should see a doctor. They can determine if you have been injured in any way and give you advice regarding emergency contraception and sexually transmitted infections. Vietnam is a high-risk country in terms of sexually transmitted diseases due to the poor quality of sex education. Please refer to Medical facilities in Vietnam for a medical provider close to you.

Please note that at public hospitals the doctors may not speak English. Try not to wash or change your clothes immediately after a sexual assault. This may destroy forensic evidence that could be important if you decide to report the assault to the police. Medical attention is available at public hospitals, private clinics or hospitals. A private hospital or clinic is more likely to offer an environment like what you might expect at home and have the HIV PEP medication and emergency contraception readily available.

This consists of 28 days of treatment that may reduce your risk of contracting HIV, you can continue the treatment with the NHS on your return to the UK.

It must be started within 72 hours of the assault for it to be effective. The treatment may not be beneficial in all cases and there may be side effects. You will need to pay for treatment and tests at both public, private hospitals and clinics.

We are unable to assist you with public funds to cover any of these costs. But we can help you reach out to family or friends for their financial support at this time. Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours 3 days of the incident for it to be effective. A brand available at most pharmacies in Vietnam is called: Postinor 1 and Postinor 2. However, we suggest that you seek medical guidance as the dose, frequency, side effects and efficacy all depend on using the medication properly.

If you have any medication administered in Vietnam, you may wish to keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication, so that you let your local health provider know when you return home. If you received medical treatment abroad, your travel insurance may cover you for any personal injuries resulting from a crime and any belongings you lost at the time of the assault. It is likely that for the claim to be valid the crime is reported to police in the country where the assault took place.

Check your policy or contact your insurance provider for details. Your policy may cover other costs incurred as a victim of crime, including legal fees. Immediately — Listen without judging, provide details of where you can get medical treatment, and accompany you to the police or medical centre if practically possible. Over the first few days — Help you to contact friends or family, provide details of support agencies, and explain the reporting process.

In the longer term — Support you through the process should you decide to report to the police and signpost you to organisations in the UK who can help you on your return home.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, think about taking those items you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts. Tell the police if you think you have been drugged. If you want the crime to be investigated, you will need to report it in Vietnam and undergo a medical examination at a public health facility or forensic centre chosen by the police.

Please be aware that few Vietnamese police officers have received special training in handling rape and sexual assault cases, and you are likely to experience a lack of professionalism when reporting an incident to the police. The British Embassy and Consulate-General are aware that some victims have found the process of reporting the assault difficult and quite different from what they would expect of UK police proceedings.

We stand ready to facilitate matters where we can. If you are a long way from the Embassy or Consulate-General and we cannot get to you, we will try to liaise with local police via telephone. You may also want to ask a friend or someone you trust to go to the police station with you — many people find it helpful not to be alone.

The police may not speak English so, if possible, take a Vietnamese speaker with you. The reporting procedure is likely to be time consuming. If need an interpreter, the police may provide one either an English-speaking police officer or a professional interpreter. Please note that there is no guarantee of the quality of the interpreter. You will make your statement in English and it will be translated into Vietnamese by the translator. Insist you get a copy of the police report and if you are asked to sign on documents, make sure you understand and agree with the content.

Let us know if you have any difficulties and we will speak with the police. If you approach the police directly, please ask them to contact the British Embassy in Hanoi on or the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City on so that we can facilitate and support you. If you are in an area where we can reach you, we will try to send a Consular officer to support you.

You will normally be asked to make your initial report at the police station closest to where the incident took place. The police officer at this police station will file your report and it is likely they will later transfer your case to another office at a higher level of city level. When reporting the incident to the police you can state your preference for a female or male officer however although there may not always be female officers available.

According to Vietnamese Penal Code, rape is an extremely serious crime. The penalties extend to life imprisonment and even death in the case of victims under 16 years of age.

There is no gender discrimination, i. Also, there is no distinction made between Vietnamese and foreign offenders. There are also several provisions on sexual abuse or assault with different penalties based on the level of violation.

You will be required to make a statement giving all details of the incident and may be asked to repeat it several times. Few Vietnamese police officers have had specialised training so expect questions which you may think irrelevant e. The officers may also be lacking in empathy. A rape or attempted rape occurs every 5 minutes in the United States.

Have you been sexually assaulted? How can you help a victim? Accept what you hear without judgment. Everyone reacts differently to sexual assault and heals at his or her own pace. It is important that you not assume you know how they are feeling — almost any reaction is possible and completely normal.

Be a good listener and be patient. Let them tell you what they are comfortable sharing in their own time. Remember to take care of yourself and seek support if you need it.

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Domestic Abuse Hotline. All Rights Reserved. They can have any relationship to the child including an older sibling or playmate, family member, a teacher, a coach or instructor, a caretaker, or the parent of another child. Abusers can manipulate victims to stay quiet about the sexual abuse using a number of different tactics. Often an abuser will use their position of power over the victim to coerce or intimidate the child.

They might tell the child that the activity is normal or that they enjoyed it. An abuser may make threats if the child refuses to participate or plans to tell another adult. A big part of protecting your child is about creating a dialogue. Read more to learn about creating this dialogue and keeping your child safe. Consider some of the following common warning signs:. If you are concerned that a child is a victim of abuse, you may not be sure what to do or how to respond. Skip to main content.

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