Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, Head of Vietnam's permanent delegation to the UN, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva presides over the seminar (Source: VNA) She made the call while attending aninternational seminar on ensuring and promoting the rights of women in coastalareas amid climate change.
The event took place in Geneva, Switzerland, onJune 12 on the sidelines of the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council(HRC). It was organised by the permanent mission of Vietnam to the UN, theWorld Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, alongwith the missions of Australia, Germany, Madagascar, and Fiji.
Deputy Minister Lan said as one of the firstcountries to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms ofDiscrimination against Women, Vietnam has been exerting all-out efforts toensure and promote gender equality and women’s rights.
Meanwhile, the country is also facing an arrayof challenges in protecting and promoting the rights of coastal women as it isamong the countries most affected by climate change.
She stressed the importance of implementing creditsupport and health care policies for coastal women, raising their publicawareness and equipping them with necessary skills, and enhancing theirleadership and participation in making climate-related policies.
At the seminar, delegates from Fiji andMadagascar shared their countries’ experience in protecting and strengtheningcoastal women’s rights in climate change response. They underlined theimportance of harmonising national and regional policies on this issue whilecalling for support from the international community to cope with climatechange.
Representatives from the Australian and Germanmissions said women in coastal areas are the factor helping to change theawareness and policy relating to climate change. Therefore, their leadershipand engagement in climate change and natural disaster response, especially incoastal communities, should be fostered.
A representative of HOPE International Organisationshared the view on the need to give the right to decide to women as the mostsuitable persons in the protection of and care for families and futuregenerations amid climate change.
A Nicaraguan delegate suggested this issuecontinue to be discussed at the HRC and the seminar’s content andrecommendations be sent to the HRC’s Special Rapporteur on the environment.-VNA
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