On July 07, 2013, the contest “Best female legal communication officer” was organized in Yen Thanh commune (Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province) by the Consultative Institute for Socio-Economic Development of Rural and Mountainous Areas (CISDOMA) in collaboration with the Women’s Union of Quang Binh district. This was an activity of the project “Capacity building for the Women’s Union of Quang Binh commune in legal communication and support for ethnic minority women” sponsored by Justice Initiative Facilitation Fund (JPP/JIFF).

The aim of the contest was to afford Management Boards of 15 Women with Law and Life Clubs in the district the opportunities to enhance legal understandings and fund-raising abilities, as well as to exchange experiences in club operation and be given deserved commendation.

Consisting of three main parts (skills, knowledge, and abilities to handle difficult situations), the contest attracted the participation of 30 contestants who were Chairs and Vice-chairs of Women with Law and Life Clubs in 15 communes of Quang Binh district. The contestants were enthusiastic in showing their legal understandings gained through the project’s training courses and club activities, and using songs, poems and plays to propagandize legal provisions. In addition, they showed great flexibility in handling the situations created by the organizing team.

The contest closed with one first prize for the Women with Life and Law Club of Trung hamlet (Vi Thuong commune), one second prize for the Women with Life and Law Club of Lung Vi hamlet (Na Khuong commune), and two third prizes for the Women with Life and Law Clubs of Ta Ngao hamlet (Tan Trinh commune) and Yen Lap hamlet (Yen Thanh commune); the other Women with Life and Law Clubs were given fourth prizes.

The contest showed that the establishment of Women with Law and Life Clubs by CISDOMA and the Women’s Union of Quang Binh district with sponsorship of JIFF had produced positive results; it provided project beneficiaries – ethnic minority women in Quang Binh district – with vital information about various legal provisions such as Gender Equality Law, Domestic Violence Prohibition Law, and Children’s Rights to Birth Registration.

Thu Hien