VFF leader hails women’s increased social standing

Those in attendance included UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta, and representatives from central ministries and agencies, foreign embassies and international organizations.

At the forum, the participants said women have always played an important role in creating a connection between peace and development, thus contributing to peacekeeping missions and the development process in their respective countries.

They compared notes on the outstanding results women worldwide have achieved and shared experiences and initiatives aiming to enhance understanding, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the countries in carrying out goals of gender equality and the advancement of women.

Looking back 20 years after the World Conference on Women in Beijing, remarkable progress was seen in gender equality at a global level: Discriminatory practices were legally eliminated; women labour forces in some areas increased; maternal mortality fell by 45% compared to 1990’s level, the proportion of women becoming involved in parliaments doubled compared to that recorded in 1995.

However, there remained problems such as pay inequality, violence against women, and low proportion of women involvement in parliaments.

A member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Tran Thi Lan said, "We should have a more positive view on the role of women in society. In a family, a woman with the motherhood is also a citizen.  Women have a dual role. Therefore, to promote the dual role, all family members need to take care and share housework as much as they can.”

In his speech, VFF President Nhan highlighted the crucial role played by Vietnamese women in the national development process.

Today, for every 100 women at the working age of 15 or above, more than 70% are gainfully employed. Additionally, 6.7% of female workers possess college and university degrees. Many Vietnamese women have reached the pinnacle of knowledge and science.

From 2006 to 2014, as many 811 women professors, associate professors were recognized, accounting for 22% of the total number of professors, associate professors nationwide. They have hold high positions in power bodies of Vietnam.

24.4% of National Assembly (NA) deputies are female. Vietnamese women have actively participated in building and developing women’s unions at all levels, Nhan added.

Through the past several years, Vietnam has adopted policies aimed at ensuring the rights and opportunities of gender equality, affirming the status, role and rights of Vietnamese women. Vietnam is also an active member in the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action on Women in 1995.

The country has pledged to carry out the UN Millennium Goals related to women.