Budget priorities risk gender equality

Officials in central Thanh Hoa Province's Rung Thong Town explain business regulations to local women. Greater effort should be made to ensure gender equality and women's rights in business and politics, a conference in Ha Noi heard yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HA NOI – The selection of priorities to ensure the budget would endanger the investment made in women and gender equality, UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) representative, Viet Nam, Suzette Mitchell warned yesterday.

Gender equality was not only an important development target but also a basis for other development goals, she told a conference to promote a national gender-equality strategy for the next 10 years in Ha Noi yesterday.

Gender equality created the right dynamic for strong socio-economic development, she said.

Mitchell emphasised the importance of maintaining the achievements already made in gender equality, especially as Viet Nam was becoming a middle-income country.

Party Central Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation deputy director Nguyen The Trung said 10 years of implementing the national strategy for Vietnamese women had advanced their role in society.

The gender gap had narrowed, he said.

Women were now engaged in every field, especially the political system.

Viet Nam always had a female Vice President and 25.76 per cent of National Assembly deputies were women, the highest rate in eight ASEAN parliaments.

Strategy

Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs minister Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan told the conference that a draft national strategy for gender equality for 2011-20 had gone to the Government.

It was intended to ensure equal opportunities and benefits for both men and women in political, economic and socio-cultural fields, she said.

The strategy also aimed to the raise the number women deputies in the National Assembly and People's Councils to more than 30 per cent between 2011-15 and more than 35 per cent by 2020.

In addition, it was planned to provide vocational training for half of Viet Nam's rural women workers and create new jobs for at least 40 per cent of workers regardless of gender.

Minister Ngan proposed that next year's 11th National Party Congress set clear directions for implementing future gender equality targets.

Both the Party and Government agencies needed to facilitate human and financial resources to ensure gender equality, she said. — VNS

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UN pledges help to Vietnam in gender equality

The top representative of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Vietnam , Suzette Mitchell, affirms the UN will help Vietnam improve its record in gender equality and the empowerment of women.

At a December 8 conference in Hanoi on ways of pushing a national strategy on gender equality for the period 2011-2020 on December 8, Mitchell emphasised the importance of maintaining the achievements already made in gender equality, especially as Vietnam is becoming a middle-income country.

She also highlighted the nation’s first-ever national strategy on gender equality. However, she said that the selection of national priorities to ensure the budget will endanger the investment made in women and gender equality.

Gender equality is not only an important development target but also a premise to achieving other development goals and creates the right dynamic for strong socio-economic development, she said.

Nguyen The Trung, the Deputy Director of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, said that Vietnamese women’s role and position in society has been lifted after 10 years of carrying out the national strategy for the advancement of women during the 2001-2010 period.

The gender gap in society has been narrowed, said Trung, adding that women are now involved in every field, especially in leading roles and political management.

Vietnam always has a female Vice President and women make up 25.76 percent of the country’s NA deputies in the 2007-2011 term, the highest rate among eight ASEAN parliaments, he stressed.

However, the conference pointed out the shortcomings in social life which have hindered economic growth, social progress, equality and sustainable development.

The Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Kim Ngan, said that the draft of the national strategy on gender equality for the 2011-2020 has been presented to the Government. The strategy aims to ensure equal opportunities and benefits for both men and women in political, economic and socio-cultural fields, she said.

The strategy also aims to the raise the rate of women deputies in the National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils to over 30 percent during the 2011-2015 period and over 35 percent in the following five years.

It also targets providing vocational training for half of rural women workers and create new jobs for at least 40 percent of workers of each gender.

She proposed that the 11 th National Party Congress set out clear directions for implementing gender equality targets in the future. The Party, as well as Government agencies need to facilitate human and financial resources to ensure gender equality, she added./.

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PM calls on women to play greater role in regional growth

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets the heads of delegations to the ASEAN Council of Women's Organisations General Assembly which opened in Ha Noi yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday called on Southeast Asian women to maintain their prominent role in helping develop their countries and the regional community.

The Government leader made his statement at the opening of the ASEAN Council of Women's Organisations (ACWO) General Assembly in Ha Noi yesterday.

The ACWO's contribution to the advancement of regional women over the past 30 years was praised by the Prime Minister, in which the council has successfully promoted gender equality andthe involvement of women in the development of their countries and the region as a whole.

"The participation and contribution of women in the creation and development of ASEAN is greatly significant," said Dung at the two-day meeting which has drawn more than 200 participants from the region and international organisations.

The Prime Minister asked the Council to develop ideas and measures to make the most of women's potential and creativeness, further promoting women's advancement and their contribution to the building of the ASEAN Community in general, and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in particular. Dung took the opportunity to call on regional governments to prioritise and maintain their support for programmes and activities promoting gender equality and female empowerment.

The ACWO's 14th General Assembly, with the theme "Enhancing women's effective participation toward a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable ASEAN" is focusing its discussions on a wide range of issues to find solutions to increasing the role of regional women as well as promoting their advancement and gender equality.

Dung confirmed in his speech that Viet Nam always attached importance to the promotion of its female population and ensuring their rights.

"The contributions of Vietnamese women to the development of the country have been increasing and they are taking on more important roles in all walks of life," said the PM, who emphasised that the government always gave favourable conditions to women to make their best contribution to the country's development.

Dung committed to regional women's representatives that Viet Nam has been and will be making every effort to work in close co-ordination with regional countries to achieve the ASEAN targets of promoting women's advancement, gender equality and their role in building the ASEAN Community. The regional community is expected to be built by 2015.

The conference, being held in Ha Noi under the chair of the Viet Nam Women's Union (VWU) which is the ACWO President from 2008-10, provides a forum for women to share their insights on women-related issues.

The conference will adopt a resolution to promote the participation and contribution of women to the development of their countries and the region, as well as the commitment of regional governments on the promotion of women's advancement and gender equality, said VWU President Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa at the opening yesterday.

The role of women in response to the financial crisis and climate change and the promotion of women's advancement and gender equality by ASEAN governments are being discussed at the conference which concludes today. The participants have also been exchanging information on other issues including poverty alleviation, food security and safety, migrant workers, and the prevention of domestic violence against women and children, according to Hoa.

A ceremony to hand-over the ACWO Presidency to Indonesia, which will take the chair of the Council from 2010 to 2012, will be held later today. — VNS

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No more gender gap

Like any mother, Ta Thanh Binh is worried how she will cope when being away from her child while pursuing a master's degree in the UK.

"Being away from my child makes me feel like I am losing something," the 22-year-old Cambridge scholarship recipient said.

Nevertheless, the young teacher from Hanoi Teachers' Training College sees the opportunity as a chance to empower herself with new knowledge. She will leave for the UK late this month to start her one-year master's degree in education at the University of Cambridge .

The scholarship to Cambridge is an example of the kinds of capacity building that is crucial for sustainable change, says UNDP country director Setsuko Yamazaki.

"Empowering women and strengthening women's participation in decision-making and leadership is at the heart of sustainable socio-economic development," Yamazaki said at the conference on enhancing the contribution of women to the nation's development, on Sept. 14.

"If Vietnam is to continue its impressive development record in this area of international economic integration, it will be essential to find ways to mobilise the full potential of its workforce, both men and women."

"When they are equipped with the skills and political support to participate fully, women can play a strong role in their communities and countries."

The national strategy on gender equality has set a target of increasing the proportion of female master degree holders to 50 percent by 2020 from a current 17.1 percent. By that time, all ministries, ministerial-level and governmental agencies, and people's committees are expected to feature the participation of women in their leadership.

"I would like to set a good example to my daughter that women should be highly-educated," Binh says. "And as a teacher I would like to pass on the knowledge and skills I will absorb to my own students."

"I don't have an ambition to change Vietnam's entire education system, but I do hope to contribute a small part of my knowledge to that process."

The opportunity Binh grasps is seen as a vital factor to increasing equality between men and women.

According to Alice Perkins, former Group HR Director for the UK Civil Service, the issue of gender equality is the same in all countries, but the difference is the opportunity women have.

"Some countries make further progress in rebalancing differences than others because they have been doing it for longer, or maybe the circumstances are more beneficial," she said.

It is essential that "they [women] have to deal with opportunities of education, training, development, and cultural expectations."

According to Nguyen Duy Thang, head of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Committee for the Advancement of Women, more and more Vietnamese women are participating in various areas of society and holding important positions in the political system.

With a high proportion of women in parliament, Vietnam ranks 4th in the Asia-Pacific region and 33rd in the world.

"Vietnamese women are striving for improvement in all areas, equipping themselves with knowledge in order to catch up with the regional and international communities. Women are increasingly self-motivated and confident in leadership, management, and scientific research; playing an active and courageous role in the market economy," he said.

The UNDP country director Yamazaki said she was impressed with significant progress Vietnam had made in gender equality, but more should be done to ensure women had an equal say in the decisions which affect their lives.

"It is clear that Vietnam has paid great attention and support to gender equality from earliest days of its constitution," said Yamazaki.

"Investment in women and girls is essential if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and investment in this one area can drive MDG progress across all the goals."

She suggested that a strong political will, effective implementation of gender equality laws and capacity building will contribute to creating a future generation of strong women leaders.

That is what the Cambridge scholar Binh expects to see in the near future as she considers pursuing a PhD degree in education./.

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No more gender gap

Like any mother, Ta Thanh Binh is worried how she will cope when being away from her child while pursuing a master's degree in the UK.

"Being away from my child makes me feel like I am losing something," the 22-year-old Cambridge scholarship recipient said.

Nevertheless, the young teacher from Hanoi Teachers' Training College sees the opportunity as a chance to empower herself with new knowledge. She will leave for the UK late this month to start her one-year master's degree in education at the University of Cambridge.

The scholarship to Cambridge is an example of the kinds of capacity building that is crucial for sustainable change, says UNDP country director Setsuko Yamazaki.

Empowering women

"Empowering women and strengthening women's participation in decision-making and leadership is at the heart of sustainable socio-economic development," Yamazaki said at the conference on enhancing the contribution of women to the nation's development, yesterday.

"If Vietnam is to continue its impressive development record in this area of international economic integration, it will be essential to find ways to fully tap the potential of its workforce, both men and women."

"When they are equipped with the skills and political support to participate fully, women can play a strong role in their communities and countries."

The national strategy on gender equality has set a target of increasing the proportion of female master degree holders to 50 percent by 2020 from a current 17.1 percent. By that time, all ministries, ministerial-level and governmental agencies, and people's committees are expected to feature the participation of women in their leadership.

"I would like to set a good example to my daughter that women should be highly-educated," Binh says. "And as a teacher I would like to pass on the knowledge and skills I will absorb to my own students."

"I don't have an ambition to change Vietnam's entire education system, but I do hope to contribute a small part of my knowledge to that process."

The opportunity Binh grasps is seen as a vital factor to increasing equality between men and women.

According to Alice Perkins, former Group HR Director for the UK Civil Service, the issue of gender equality is the same in all countries, but the difference is the opportunity women have.

"Some countries make further progress in rebalancing differences than others because they have been doing it for longer, or maybe the circumstances are more beneficial," she said.

It is essential that "they [women] have to deal with opportunities of education, training, development, and cultural expectations."

According to Nguyen Duy Thang, head of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Committee for the Advancement of Women, more and more Vietnamese women are participating in various areas of society and holding important positions in the political system.

With a high proportion of women in parliament, Vietnam ranks 4th in the Asia-Pacific region and 33rd in the world.

"Vietnamese women are striving for improvement in all areas, equipping themselves with knowledge in order to catch up with the regional and international communities. Women are increasingly self-motivated and confident in leadership, management, and scientific research; playing an active and courageous role in the market economy," he said.

The UNDP country director Yamazaki said she was impressed with significant progress Vietnam had made in gender equality, but more should be done to ensure women had an equal say in the decisions which affect their lives.

"It is clear that Vietnam has paid great attention and support to gender equality from earliest days of its constitution," said Yamazaki.

"Investment in women and girls is essential if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and investment in this one area can drive MDG progress across all the goals."

She suggested that a strong political will, effective implementation of gender equality laws and capacity building will contribute to creating a future generation of strong women leaders.

That is what the Cambridge scholar Binh expects to see in the near future as she considers pursuing a PhD degree in education.

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No more gender gap

by Khanh Chi

Assoc Prof Le Thi Thuy of the National Institute of Animal Husbandary instructs her colleagues to divide animal genes. — VNA/VNS Photo Thai Binh

HA NOI — Like any mother, Ta Thanh Binh is worried how she will cope when being away from her child while pursuing a master's degree in the UK.

"Being away from my child makes me feel like I am losing something," the 22-year-old Cambridge scholarship recipient said.

Nevertheless, the young teacher from Ha Noi Teachers' Training College sees the opportunity as a chance to empower herself with new knowledge. She will leave for the UK late this month to start her one-year master's degree in education at the University of Cambridge.

The scholarship to Cambridge is an example of the kinds of capacity building that is crucial for sustainable change, says UNDP country director Setsuko Yamazaki.

Empowering women

"Empowering women and strengthening women's participation in decision-making and leadership is at the heart of sustainable socio-economic development," Yamazaki said at the conference on enhancing the contribution of women to the nation's development, yesterday.

"If Viet Nam is to continue its impressive development record in this area of international economic integration, it will be essential to find ways to mobilise the full potential of its workforce, both men and women."

"When they are equipped with the skills and political support to participate fully, women can play a strong role in their communities and countries."

The national strategy on gender equality has set a target of increasing the proportion of female master degree holders to 50 per cent by 2020 from a current 17.1 per cent. By that time, all ministries, ministerial-level and governmental agencies, and people's committees are expected to feature the participation of women in their leadership.

"I would like to set a good example to my daughter that women should be highly-educated," Binh says. "And as a teacher I would like to pass on the knowledge and skills I will absorb to my own students."

"I don't have an ambition to change Viet Nam's entire education system, but I do hope to contribute a small part of my knowledge to that process."

The opportunity Binh grasps is seen as a vital factor to increasing equality between men and women.

According to Alice Perkins, former Group HR Director for the UK Civil Service, the issue of gender equality is the same in all countries, but the difference is the opportunity women have.

"Some countries make further progress in rebalancing differences than others because they have been doing it for longer, or maybe the circumstances are more beneficial," she said.

It is essential that "they [women] have to deal with opportunities of education, training, development, and cultural expectations."

According to Nguyen Duy Thang, head of the Ministry of Home Affairs' Committee for the Advancement of Women, more and more Vietnamese women are participating in various areas of society and holding important positions in the political system.

With a high proportion of women in parliament, Viet Nam ranks 4th in the Asia-Pacific region and 33rd in the world.

"Vietnamese women are striving for improvement in all areas, equipping themselves with knowledge in order to catch up with the regional and international communities. Women are increasingly self-motivated and confident in leadership, management, and scientific research; playing an active and courageous role in the market economy," he said.

The UNDP country director Yamazaki said she was impressed with significant progress Viet Nam had made in gender equality, but more should be done to ensure women had an equal say in the decisions which affect their lives.

"It is clear that Viet Nam has paid great attention and support to gender equality from earliest days of its constitution," said Yamazaki.

"Investment in women and girls is essential if we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); and investment in this one area can drive MDG progress across all the goals."

She suggested that a strong political will, effective implementation of gender equality laws and capacity building will contribute to creating a future generation of strong women leaders.

That is what the Cambridge scholar Binh expects to see in the near future as she considers pursuing a PhD degree in education. — VNS

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