Women’s participation in politics is one of the key contents of gender equality as it will create more opportunities for women to raise their voice in making policies in various spheres, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said at a workshop in northern Ha Nam province on December 27.

The role and position of Vietnamese women has been raised significantly with more and more women involving in political, economic, social and cultural affairs, she said, noting that however, more efforts are still needed to help women fully benefit from the social-economic achievements.

According to the Vice President, this is not an easy task due to poor public awareness of the issue.

Participants reported that in the Red River delta, the rate of women in the National Assembly is 27.73 percent, while in executive boards and standing committees at provincial level, the rate is 11.3 percent and 7.8 percent respectively. The figures are still low compared to female contributions to the social-economic development, and fail to meet the goal set by the Politburo in Resolution No 11-NQ-BCT on women affairs in the period of industrialisation and modernisation.

Delegates also discussed the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in ensuring gender equality in election; the implementation of legal regulations to strengthen the participation of women in politics; and developing female human resources.

By 2020, Vietnam aims for women to fill at least 25 percent of posts in party committees at all levels and 35-40 percent of seats in the National Assembly. The State and Governments agencies should have females occupy at least 30 percent of key leadership positions.-VNA