Hanoi (VNA) – Throughout the country’s history, Vietnamese women have made enormous contributions to national liberation and construction.
Amid the global trend of integration and development in which Vietnam is in the midst of, women have continued playing a crucial role as a driver for the development of society.
With a critically important role to play in families, women have considerable influence on the happiness and stability of each family. As wives, they understand their husbands and stay ready to share the vicissitudes of life together, helping their spouses feel at ease and contribute more to society. As devoted mothers, they are true examples for their children to follow.
Bringing into play women’s role
In the new era, apart from their important role in families, women are an active part in social activities. More and more have become famous politicians, renowned scientists, and dynamic entrepreneurs.
The economic rights of women have been promoted thanks to the amendment of legal regulations. For example, women are now co-signatories to land, housing, and asset ownership certificates besides their husbands.
Vietnam is also one of the few countries having completed a report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
In particular, the boards “For the progress of women” have been set up across ministries, sectors, and localities. The network of consultants on gender affairs operates fruitfully. Meanwhile, the legal system for ensuring equality for women has been strengthened as seen in the Law on Gender Equality, which came into force on July 1, 2007.
Accompanying the country on the path of international integration and development, Vietnamese women have continued bringing into play their role and established themselves in the development of society. The more the economy grows, the more opportunities women gain to join in the market economy, social activities, and the labour market while the burden of family care responsibility is more equally shared by their husbands.
However, there remain many gender equality problems that need to be addressed, especially in terms of viewpoints among both men and women.
In the integration and development trend nowadays, to affirm and bring into play their role, Vietnamese women in general and those living in rural areas and working on agriculture in particular are recommended to keep asserting themselves in families and society to help build a happier life.
Khuat Thu Hong, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), blames domestic violence partly on society’s tolerance of physical and psychological violence from husbands, as well as women’s lack of gender equality awareness.
Unless society views gender-based violence in families as a problem needing social intervention, violence can still occur in families and women continue to suffer, Hong pointed out.
The eradication of violence against women and girls requires men’s active participation since it is men who must make changes. This is the responsibility of all people who need to take action to end and prevent all forms of violence against women and girls, according to the ISDS Director.
Leaving no women behind
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said the full awareness of gender issues emerging amid digital transformation will help relevant agencies perfect the policy and legal framework to create favourable conditions for women and girls to further engage in the digital transformation process.
She noted that improving the awareness of educational opportunities and removing gender stereotypes in curricula and career orientation, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) training, are considered the key to promoting women’s participation in digital transformation.
Changing occupational expectations linked with gender stereotypes, including by promoting women’s involvement in the fields of information technology and digital transformation, will encourage their confidence in IT-related areas.
Equipping women with skills and assisting them in switching to digital forms of employment is essential to ensuring that women are not left behind, according to Ha./.
