10.6.11. Anti-harassment policy

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) consistently places the UEH community at the heart of all development policies. The university not only focuses on creating a dynamic and creative learning and working environment but also firmly grounds itself on the values of equity, respect, and humanity. Three core policies – anti-discrimination, support for underrepresented groups, and anti-harassment – clearly demonstrate UEH’s commitment to building a diverse, inclusive, and safe academic community. Through regulations, support programs, and practical activities, UEH continuously promotes equal opportunity for all students, lecturers, and staff, regardless of gender, age, circumstances, or background, striving for an environment where everyone is heard, respected, and can develop comprehensively.

UEH’s Anti-discrimination policy

UEH strictly adheres to state regulations on prohibited acts in the labor field stipulated in Article 8 of the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14. Accordingly, officials and employees at UEH always: 

1. Do not engage in discriminatory practices in labor.

2. Do not mistreat workers or engage in forced labor.

3. Do not engage in sexual harassment in the workplace.

4. Do not exploit apprenticeship or traineeship to seek profit, exploit labor, or entice, lure, or force apprentices/trainees into illegal activities.

5. Do not use untrained laborers or those without national vocational skill certificates for jobs that require trained laborers or national vocational skill certificates.

6. Do not entice, lure, promise, use false advertising, or other tricks to deceive workers or to recruit workers for the purpose of human trafficking, exploitation, forced labor, or abuse of employment services, or activities of sending workers abroad under contracts to perform illegal acts.

7. Do not illegally use underage labor.

UEH has implemented policies and procedures to ensure that all individuals can safely lodge complaints, denunciations, or reports about discriminatory or unjust acts in education and work, particularly regarding gender equality. Specifically: 

+ UEH complies with  Law No. 73/2006/QH11 on Gender equality of the Government, whereby men and women are treated equally in the workplace regarding employment, salary, bonuses, social insurance, working conditions, and other work circumstances. The university is committed to a working environment free from sexual harassment and discrimination in any form.

+ Clause 3, Clause 6, Article 7 of the UEH Code of Conduct stipulates “Respect the principle of non-discrimination based on race, gender, class, belief, religion, disabilities“, “Do not harass others under any circumstances”.

UEH Code of Conduct

Furthermore, UEH has issued the Regulations on receiving and resolving complaints and denunciations (Decision No. 2410/QD-DHKT-BDCLKSNB dated July 31, 2025) and the Complaint resolution process (Decision No. 2617/QD-DHKT-BDCLKSNB dated July 31, 2025), the Denunciation resolution process (Decision No. 2616/QD-DHKT-BDCLKSNB dated July 31, 2025). These are official documents, developed based on the 2011 Law on Complaints and the 2018 Law on Denunciations, ensuring compliance with national law. 

Regulations on Academic Integrity: Decision No. 4233/QD-DHKT-NCPTGKTC of UEH promulgates regulations on academic integrity tin scientific and technological research, emphasizing UEH’s commitment to protecting the university’s academic values and reputation, while laying the foundation for a quality and responsible research environment. These regulations set standards to ensure honesty, transparency, and accountability in research, applying to all researchers, lecturers, and students at UEH. At UEH, academic integrity is not only a standard but also an immutable principle in the scientific and educational environment. UEH ensures that all researchers, staff, and learners are responsible for complying with these rules and have the right to report violations without fear. UEH will continue efforts to protect the rights of whistleblowers and maintain a clean educational environment where all discriminatory or unjust acts are resolved transparently and fairly.

In its promulgated regulations and policies, UEH always clearly stipulates the following principles:

+ Information confidentiality: UEH commits to keeping confidential the identity, address, and personal information of complainants and whistleblowers.

+ Transparency and fairness: The process is carried out in accordance with the law, under supervision to protect the legitimate rights and interests of related parties.

+ Proper authority: Depending on the subject (learner or staff) and the nature of the case, the complaint/denunciation will be sent to the correct functional unit for handling.

These policies are widely publicized on the UEH Portal, ensuring transparency and equal access for all members. They are implemented by the Human Resources and Organisation Development Department, Department of Student Affairs, Department of Training, in coordination with relevant functional units including the Department of Research – Development and Global Engagement and the Department of Communications and Partnerships, ensuring mechanisms for feedback, protection, and violation handling. Simultaneously, UEH enhances support services and feedback channels: UEH deploys diverse forms of receiving and processing support requests (05/2024) to standardize the process. The support mechanism is institutionalized – digitalized, public, and transparent for learners, officials, and employees, improving accessibility, traceability, and responsiveness. 

Throughout its development, the UEH culture has always been preserved, promoted, and clearly defined in each individual of the community.  UEH culture is a handbook promoting the staff and all learners and students to comply with noble behavioral standards. The goal is to enhance awareness, responsibility, integrity, and honesty, while building a learning and working environment full of self-respect and respect for others at UEH.

E-magazine “UEH Culture” is disseminated on digital media platforms

Support for underrepresented groups: Promoting diversity, empowerment, and equal opportunity for all individuals

UEH steadfastly adheres to the vision of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning and working environment where every individual, regardless of gender, age, circumstances, sexual orientation, or origin, is respected and has equal development opportunities. The university implements recruitment, planning, and appointment policies based on individual capacity and achievements, without discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, belief, marital status, sexual orientation (including transgender individuals), culture, or social status.

Parallel to policies ensuring equality, UEH continuously builds an inclusive learning and working environment where every individual is respected and has the same development opportunities. The university particularly encourages the participation of underrepresented groups with practical projects and activities: 

+ The communication campaign Do you truly understand feminism? was delivered through multi-channel platforms and an e-newsletter distributed to students and the wider community, emphasizing the LGBTQ+ community and the gender equality rights framework. 

+ Interdisciplinary project GS4Infra: Integrating gender into irrigation works, responding to climate change.

Over 100+ female leaders trained, participating in regional development strategy planning

+ EqualVoice 2024 Contest – Promoting Gender Equality “Removing barriers, building a fair world and equal opportunities for all genders”.

Workshop: “GenZ – GenderFree” within the framework of the EqualVoice Contest 2024

+ UEH Sports Tournament, UEH League and the communication campaign on Gender equity in sport

UEH Sports Tournament 2024 (UEH League 2024) enhances the spirit of equality in sports for all individuals, all gender identities 

Ensuring a safe, respectful, and harassment-free environment

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) consistently prioritizes building a safe and healthy learning and working environment. The university proactively implements numerous communication activities, training, and protective mechanisms to raise awareness, prevent, and effectively handle violations.

Mechanism for receiving, handling reports, and protecting victims of harassment

For cases violating regulations, UEH has implemented the following disciplinary measures: 

Process for receiving and supporting learners subjected to sexual harassment: UEH has developed a clear process and system to support learners in denouncing and reporting acts of sexual harassment, ensuring all information is handled confidentially, promptly, and accurately through specific support step:

• • Information reception
  • Verification and assessment
  • Support and counseling
  • Violation handling
  • Monitoring and evaluation

Complaint and denunciation procedure from the inspectorate: As the agency receiving and resolving complaints, the UEH Inspectorate conducts reviews and verifies reports, ensuring the rights and equality for the whistleblower. This procedure is carried out in accordance with legal regulations and under close supervision to protect the rights of the whistleblower, ensure their interests, and maintain transparency in the operations of educational institutions.

• • Receiving and processing complaints:
  • Order for resolving complaints and denunciations:
  • Role of the Ministry Inspectorate
  • Responsibilities of subsidiary units
  • Reporting and archiving
  • Handling violations

Raising awareness and communication on harassment prevention

Parallel with issuing disciplinary measures, UEH regularly organizes dialogue and communication activities to disseminate, educate, and raise community awareness about the reality of sexual harassment. 

The talkshow  “Sexual harassment – Silence or Speak up” created an open and in-depth forum for discussing topics related to “sexuality,” “sexual harassment,” and “Laws related to the crime of sexual harassment and sexual exploitation” through the perspectives of sociology, sexology, and legal experts for over 300 staff and students in attendance. 

Speakers sharing with UEH students at the talkshow “Sexual Harassment – Silence or Speak Up”

• • A multi-channel communication campaign to raise awareness about self-protection against sexual harassment and sending Enews to the emails of all UEH students, lecturers, officials, and employees (70% open rate), helping them recognize, prevent, and protect themselves against sexual harassment, whether in the classroom or the workplace. It also equipped them with relevant legal knowledge, necessary skills, and reporting channels to protect themselves from the risk of sexual harassment.
  • The Online sexual harassment communication campaign: multi-channel and sending Enews to UEH students, lecturers, staff, and workers (70% open rate), providing knowledge, identifying online sexual harassment behaviors, and guiding how to choose the most suitable solutions for themselves when encountering online sexual harassment situations.

The communication campaign Gender equality in perceptions of sexual harassment: Victims are not only female was a multi-channel campaign and Enews sent for students and the community (70% open rate), aiming to change perceptions: any sexual harassment victim, regardless of gender or age, also needs understanding, care, sharing, and protection. Thereby, it clearly demonstrates inclusion, acknowledging the existence and protecting different gender groups, including transgender people.

UEH is committed to protecting the rights and safety of learners, fostering a healthy and respectful educational environment 

The year 2024 marks a strong advancement for UEH in the field of promoting equality, inclusion, and respect for human dignity. Three key policies – anti-discrimination, support for underrepresented groups, and anti-harassment – have been deployed by UEH in a synchronized manner, closely integrated into all training, research, and university governance activities.

Compared to 2023, the 2024 policies have been standardized, institutionalized, and comprehensively digitalized through a receiving-processing-protection system, ensuring transparency, timeliness, and absolute confidentiality for learners and workers. Along with that, UEH continues to expand support programs and multi-channel communications, creating open dialogue forums on gender equality, anti-harassment, and empowering underrepresented groups.

From promulgating specific regulations and organizing practical activities to spreading the culture of “Respect – Inclusion – Integrity,” UEH is building a diverse, safe, and humane academic community where every individual – regardless of gender, circumstances, age, or identity – has equal opportunity for development. 

Open related links:

1. Process for receiving and supporting learners subjected to sexual harassment – https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/tin-tuc/quy-trinh-tiep-nhan-va-ho-tro-nguoi-hoc-bi-quay-roi-tinh-duc-tai-ueh/

2. Decision No. 4233/QD-DHKT-NCPTGKTC of UEH promulgates regulations on academic integrity – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tF-nLv4EoG9sjDbacTOUXoYu5w0IOnPJ/view?usp=sharing

3. Regulations on receiving and resolving complaints and denunciations – https://drive.google.com/file/d/13hEguAcYld6-zaElZRADFrxrrWHCccWq/view

4. Complaint resolution process – https://drive.google.com/file/d/13hEguAcYld6-zaElZRADFrxrrWHCccWq/view

5. Denunciation resolution process – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e2ZkRqYKf14S5kTFw3TYXeGnlbvAkuNm/view

6. 2011 Law on Complaints – https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=162374

7. 2018 Law on Denunciations – https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Bo-may-hanh-chinh/Luat-To-cao-336713.aspx

8. UEH Portal – https://hotro.ueh.edu.vn/bai-viet/thong-tin-ve-khieu-nai-to-cao-cua-nguoi-hoc-92

9. May 13th, 2024 – Diverse forms of receiving and processing support requests – https://www.ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/nang-cao-chat-luong-phuc-vu-nguoi-hoc-vien-chuc-nguoi-lao-dong-doi-tac-ueh-trien-khai-da-dang-cac-hinh-thuc-tiep-nhan-va-xu-ly-yeu-cau-ho-tro-71811

10. July 15th, 2024 – Run ahead of the darkness: Learn to protect yourself from sexual harassment – https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/chay-len-truoc-bong-toi-hoc-cach-bao-ve-ban-than-truoc-quay-roi-tinh-duc-72106

11. May 29th, 2025 – Gender equality in perceptions of sexual harassment: Victims are not only female – https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/cong-bang-gioi-trong-nhan-thuc-ve-quay-roi-tinh-duc-khi-nan-nhan-khong-chi-co-nu-gioi-74220

12. November 26th, 2024 – Sexual harassment – Silence or Speak up – https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/en/news/sexual-harassment-silence-or-speak-up/

13. Article 8 of the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14 – https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2019/12/45.signed.pdf

14. Law No. 73/2006/QH11 on Gender equality of the Government – https://chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=28975

15. Clause 3, Clause 6, Article 7 of the UEH Code of Conduct – https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/van-hoa-ueh/

16. UEH culture handbook – https://emagazine.ueh.edu.vn/van-hoa-ueh/ 

17. January 27th, 2025 – Implementing human resource policies linked to 17 SDGs towards efforts to contribute intellectual resources to sustainable development goals – https://www.ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/trien-khai-cac-chinh-sach-nguon-nhan-luc-gan-voi-17-sdgs-huong-toi-no-luc-dong-gop-tri-luc-cho-muc-tieu-phat-trien-ben-vung-73312

18. March 7th, 2024 – Do you truly understand feminism? – https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/ban-da-hieu-dung-ve-nu-quyen-71486

19. October 3rd, 2024 – Interdisciplinary project GS4Infra – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/ueh-introduces-the-research-project-gender-sensitizing-for-design-and-operation-of-water-energy-climate-change-infrastructures-in-soc-trang-province-mekong-delta-vietnam-gs4infra-72586

20. August 26th, 2024 – EqualVoice 2024 Contest – Promoting Gender Equality – https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/cuoc-thi-equalvoice-2024-promoting-gender-equality-xoa-bo-rao-can-xay-dung-the-gioi-cong-bang-va-co-hoi-deu-danh-cho-moi-gioi-tinh-72323?app=true&app=true

21. April 26th, 2023 – UEH Sports Tournament – https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/cong-tac-sinh-vien/ket-qua-hoi-thao-truyen-thong-sinh-vien-ueh-nam-2023/

22. September 23rd, 2024 – UEH League – https://ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/hanh-trinh-ueh-league-2024-khep-lai-vinh-danh-nhung-ca-nhan-va-tap-the-xuat-sac-72524

23. February 28th, 2024 – Gender equity in sport – https://ueh.edu.vn/en/news/gender-equity-in-sport-a-fair-playground-for-all-71450 

24. June 26th, 2024 – Online sexual harassment – https://www.ueh.edu.vn/cuoc-song-ueh/tin-tuc/quay-roi-tinh-duc-qua-mang-ton-thuong-that-tren-khong-gian-ao-72017