APEC members recognize women’s contribution to economic development
PSNews-Over 200 delegates from the 21 member economies of APEC, including the host Vietnamese delegation, joined the 2017 Women and the Economy Forum (WEF), the 2nd Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE2), organized by the Ministry of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) of Vietnam in Hue city on September 26.
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| Delegates at the event |
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of MOLISA Dao Hong Lan highlighted the PPWE2 as the first important event contributing to the success of the 2017 WEF.
The meeting is an opportunity for Vietnam and the APEC economies to further contribute to the joint efforts and achievements. To ensure successes and consolidate the role, position and the effective working mechanism of the PPWE, advising groups to the ministers and had delegates of the economies are expected to actively discuss and give practical suggestions at the meeting.
“The main goal of the meeting is to ensure gender equality, a thorough issue that needs to be addressed in all areas and at all APEC forums to increase women's participation, promote their economic potential in a changing world,” Deputy Minister Dao Hong Lan said.
The development and implementation of gender-responsive policies and programs in APEC should be made to further integrate gender equality issues in the forums for women’s economic and social advancement and gender equality in the region. The discussion of gender equality would contribute to further recognizing the important role of women in APEC's economic development as well as ensuring an equal access to economic opportunity, labor and employment for both women and men.
Under the theme “Enhancement of Integration and Economic Power of Women in a Changing World” and with three priorities: promoting gender equality for inclusive economic growth; enhancing the competitiveness and creativity of micro, small and medium enterprises owned by women; and narrowing the gender gap in human resources development, the participants at the PPWE2 will update information, discuss and seek agreement on the annual agenda for the forum; give proposals and initiatives to the 2017 WEF and other APEC Vietnam events; and finalize the Official Document and the Draft Ministerial Declaration of 2017 for the Ministerial Dialogue.
To date, the APEC Vietnam 2017 has completed two thirds of its journey and has achieved various fine outcomes.
This year’s WEF includes 3 main events, including the 2nd PPWE (organized on September 26 and 27), the Public-Private Dialogue on Women and the Economy (PPD WE, organized on September 28 and 29) and the High Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy (HLPD-WE, organized on September 29).
