Influencers in Vietnam's #TheOrangeTeam Campaign Reach 4 Million People in Fight Against Violence

In a powerful social media campaign aimed at combatting violence against women and children, over 80 social influencers in Vietnam, who received training from UN Women, have successfully reached close to 4 million people. This campaign addresses a pervasive issue in the nation and has garnered significant support and engagement.

The campaign, initiated by artists, authors, TikTok content creators, businesspeople, and others, utilized the hashtag #TheOrangeTeam, symbolizing the global United Nations anti-violence campaign. Following four training sessions conducted in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City throughout 2022 and 2023, the influencers took to Facebook to share their anti-violence messages.

Remarkably, within just six months after the training commenced in October 2022, these influencers reached 4 million users on social media, receiving nearly 500,000 interactions including responses, comments, shares, and clicks. Among the 83 influencers who participated in the gender-based violence trainings, more than half were women.

One notable influencer contributing to #TheOrangeTeam is Miss Grand International 2021, Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, a 24-year-old model and online content producer with millions of followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Despite facing online hostility due to her public persona, she actively engages in social issues. Several other influencers from #TheOrangeTeam reported facing sexual harassment, threats, and hate speech online, leading to adverse effects on their physical and emotional well-being.

Nguyen highlights that female influencers are increasingly becoming targets of online abuse, emphasizing the importance of treating one another fairly as each individual is unique from birth.

According to the government's 2019 National Study on Abuse Against Women in Vietnam, nearly two in three women in the country have experienced some form of abuse from their partners. Disturbingly, the prevalence of violence remains largely unknown, with 90.4% of assaulted women in 2019 failing to seek assistance. Multiple studies have also highlighted instances of child abuse throughout Vietnam.

To address these issues and provide support, influencers involved in #TheOrangeTeam campaign have shared hotline numbers for victims of assault to seek vital assistance. Additionally, they have widely disseminated two videos created by UN Women, featuring the influencers, titled "Talk to Goby" and "Take 16 Steps to End Violence Against Women and Children." The former video showcases Goby, a fish from Vietnamese folklore, responding to inquiries about gender-based violence online.

Encouraging widespread participation, influencers are urging supporters to join #TheOrangeTeam and actively reject all forms of violence. Trang Ha, a 47-year-old writer and passionate advocate for gender equality, who previously collaborated with UN Women on the HeForShe campaign in 2015, is among the influential members of the team.

Trang emphasizes that the training workshop facilitated an intergenerational dialogue among creators from various platforms, allowing them to exchange ideas on addressing violence against women and children and brainstorm effective solutions.

Quang Dang, a 34-year-old professional dancer, choreographer, and actor, is another influential member of #TheOrangeTeam. He emphasizes that the journey towards creating a violence-free environment is just beginning and calls upon everyone to play their part and support victims of violence.

Looking ahead, UN Women plans to host two additional trainings in 2024, with one in Ha Noi and another in Ho Chi Minh City. The Australian government will fund these trainings, demonstrating their commitment to combatting violence against women and children in Vietnam.