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 an international seminar on ensuring and promoting the rights of women in coastal areas amid climate change.
The event took place in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 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, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, along with the missions of Australia, Germany, Madagascar, and Fiji.
Deputy Minister Lan said as one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Vietnam has been exerting all-out efforts to ensure and promote gender equality and women’s rights.
Meanwhile, the country is also facing an array of challenges in protecting and promoting the rights of coastal women as it is among the countries most affected by climate change.
She stressed the importance of implementing credit support and health care policies for coastal women, raising their public awareness and equipping them with necessary skills, and enhancing their leadership and participation in making climate-related policies.
At the seminar, delegates from Fiji and Madagascar shared their countries’ experience in protecting and strengthening coastal women’s rights in climate change response. They underlined the importance of harmonising national and regional policies on this issue while calling for support from the international community to cope with climate change.
Representatives from the Australian and German missions said women in coastal areas are the factor helping to change the awareness and policy relating to climate change. Therefore, their leadership and engagement in climate change and natural disaster response, especially in coastal communities, should be fostered.
A representative of HOPE International Organisation shared the view on the need to give the right to decide to women as the most suitable persons in the protection of and care for families and future generations amid climate change.
A Nicaraguan delegate suggested this issue continue to be discussed at the HRC and the seminar’s content and recommendations be sent to the HRC’s Special Rapporteur on the environment.-VNA
VNA
