Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always pledges to promote gender equality and ensure rights of women and girls, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam.
Dam made the remark during a conference held in Hanoi on April 19, which aimed to review the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Vietnam and the country’s commitments to gender equality promotion over the last decade.
Dam highlighted Vietnam’s advancements in reforming laws and policies as well as in applying the convention’s regulations related to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in the building and enforcement of the national laws.
Up to over 40 laws, along with a series of national programmes and plans concerning the issue, were issued over the last five years, creating a legal foundation for the country to strongly promote gender equality and enhance rights of women and girls.
Dam said Vietnam has made significant achievements in fostering gender equality and empowering women, citing that the country, for the first time, has a National Assembly Chairwoman and three female Politburo members.
Over 50 percent of ministries and sectors at all levels see females holding key positions, while the rates of women owning enterprises and those working in technical fields are high, accounting for nearly 25 percent and 53 percent, respectively.
The Deputy Minister affirmed the ministry’s commitments to accelerating the implementation of CEDAW, while proposing the approval of national action programmes and plans on gender equality.
He also stressed the need to include priorities concerning rights of women and girls in the national agenda.
UN Women Country Representative in Vietnam Shoko Ishikawa hailed Vietnam as one of the first nations ratifying the convention, saying that this contributed to promoting gender equality and enhancing empowerment of women.
She also praised the country’s efforts and successes in boosting socio-economic development and ensuring rights of women and girls, as well as its commitments to building and issuing relevant legal documents, especially the Laws on Gender Equality and Domestic Violence Prevention and Control .
Participants to the forum focused their discussions on achievements and challenges in empowering women and girls in Vietnam and efforts of non-governmental organisations in promoting women’ enjoyment of human rights.
The CEDAW was approved by the UN General Assembly in December 1979 and officially took effect on September 3, 1981. Vietnam ratified the convention on December 27, 1981.-VNA
