PRESS RELEASE
Hanoi – Today, on the International Anti-Corruption Day 9th December, the Danish Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Kim Højlund Christensen and the Executive Director of Towards Transparency Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Vien signed an agreement to start a one-year project to enhance the role of youth to challenge corruption and promote a culture of integrity in Vietnam.
With a grant of approximately US$ 100,000 from Denmark, the project will contribute to enhancing evidence for the government to strengthen its integrity education and improving teaching materials and teaching methods on integrity education.
‘The Embassy of Denmark is happy to cooperate with Towards Transparency to carry out this project. This is part of our long-term commitment to support anti-corruption efforts in Vietnam with both state and non-state organisations. Focusing on improving integrity education for youth, the project will support empowering young people who are agents of change and can actively play a role in creating and promoting an integrity culture in the country now and in the future.’ said H.E. Mr. Kim Højlund Christensen, Ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam.
Since 2009, with Project 137 the government of Vietnam has piloted a formal anti-corruption program to tackle corruption in general and promote integrity amongst youth in particular. In 2013, the Prime Minister of Vietnam decided to integrate anti-corruption content into teaching programmes of education and training institutions. The cooperation between the Embassy of Denmark and Towards Transparency will support these anti-corruption efforts of the government through delivering an innovative Integrity Training Guide to improve teaching materials and teaching methods on integrity education.
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kieu Vien- Executive Director of Towards Transparency further emphasized “The Integrity Training Guide will serve as a practical tool for Vietnamese teachers, graduates from Towards Transparency’s Vietnam Integrity School as well as other interested stakeholders to disseminate integrity and anti-corruption knowledge in their schools and wider community.”
Corruption is an increasing concern for Vietnamese citizens and ranked as the 4th biggest concern following poverty reduction, food hygiene and crime/safety according to Towards Transparency’s Vietnam Corruption Barometer 2019. Building a generation of young leaders and agents of change who uphold integrity and have the knowledge, skills and courage to demand greater transparency in government and society will be a sustainable approach to mobilize Vietnamese youth’s support and participation in the national fight against corruption.
Background information
THE DANISH EMBASSY IN VIETNAM
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, Vietnam and Denmark have enjoyed a strong and close cooperation. Today, Vietnam remains an important partner-country for the Danish government with cooperation within areas such as green growth, energy, water, health, education, food safety, culture and commerce.
For further information about the Danish-Vietnamese relationship and the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam please visit www.vietnam.um.dk and https://www.facebook.com/dkvietnam
TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY (TT)
Towards Transparency (TT) is a Vietnamese non–profit consultancy company founded in 2008 with an aim to contribute to the prevention of and fight against corruption. In March 2009, TT became the official National Contact of Transparency International (TI) – the global movement with more than 100 national chapters worldwide. TT is the only civil society organization specifically focusing on anti-corruption in the country.
For more information about TT, please visit https://towardstransparency.org;
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Kim Quy – Culture and Communications Officer, Embassy of Denmark:
Tel: 0982021386
M: 0367991866
