Vietnam pays attention to institutionalising gender equality

Thinh stated that Vietnam has set specific targets in this field, including increasing the participation of women in management and leadership positions, narrowing gender gap in the economic and labour fields, offering more opportunities for poor women in rural areas and ethnic minority women, increasing the quality of female workers, and ensuring gender equality in all aspects and in the family.

The country has gained positive results, as seen in the rate of women holding positions in the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils reaching 26-27 percent, the rate of women participating in economic activities at 85 percent and the proportion of trained female workers at 55 percent.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh addresses a plenary session of the second Eurasian Women’s Forum (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese women are taking the initiative and actively taking part in start-up and international integration, she added.

The Vietnamese leader appreciated contributions by the Eurasian Women’s Forum to connecting women from different nations and cultures in Asia and Europe, promoting women’s role in all aspects of social life, thus building a world of peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development.

She said that changes in the world situation such as the fourth Industrial Revolution and international integration have brought many opportunities to women. However, they are facing a lot of challenges caused by uneven development, conflict risks, terrorism, natural disasters, climate change and increasing protectionism.

This requires the international community, including the Eurasian Women’s Forum, to join hands to solve these challenges.

Vice President Thinh called on women around the world to take the initiative to boos economic connectivity and international cooperation, and improve their knowledge by themselves to avoid being left behind.

Every nation should consider the ensuring of gender equality and women empowerment one of the priority tasks, she suggested.

She also expressed her hope that women will expand international collaboration to contribute more to the implementation of sustainable development goals.

On the sidelines of the forum, Vice President Thinh met Georgy Poltavchenko, Governor of Saint Petersburg, who affirmed his hope to boost cooperation between the city with Ho Chi Minh City and other Vietnamese localities and contribute to the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.

He shared that his city is working with the Vietnamese side to build a museum on the US war in Vietnam and a Vietnam trade-culture centre in the city, and is willing to share its experience in city management, information technology, health, ship building, manufacturing, environment and tourism.

The first edition of the Eurasian Women’s Forum was also held in Saint Petersburg in 2015.

This year’s forum, themed “Women for Global Security and Sustainable Development”, attracted about 2,000 delegates from more than 100 countries over the world.