Villagers called for stopping domestic violence at the competition.

At the event, which was held by World Vision and local Women’s Union, four teams from four villages in Tien Lu district showed their talents on acting on plays and singing folk songs, aiming to raise local awareness about gender equality and to prevent local people from domestic and school violence.

“If World Vision continues to organize these activities, our villages won’t have domestic violence and gender inequality. I hope World Vision will hold similar events in the coming time,” said Nguyen Van Tho, a resident in Phu Sa village in Hoang Hanh commune.

Other officials from local authorities had the same thought with the man.

“Such event successfully delivered as many messages as we gave to local people at our communication sessions in several months,” said Doan Thi Xuan, Chairwoman of Women’s Union in the commune. “Though our communication session takes place in every three months, only women attend.”

“All short plays are so interesting, giving local people powerful messages such as ‘Let’s say no with domestic violence’ and ‘Women have a right to equality with men’. Men in our community definitely will say no with domestic violence,” said Doan Quoc Vu, a local official.

Local statistics show that many local people value men than women in Tien Lu district. The district’s health center revealed that many families who already have two daughters give birth the third time, hoping that they will have a son.

According to local statistics, 37 cases of domestic violence occurred in the district in 2011. Among 100 divorce cases last year, 80 had the sources that the husband beat his wife, he was drunk or he made his wife deliver a son.