(photo: toquoc.vn)

Vietnam shows its strong determination to promote gender equality and the advancement of women by a clear, consistent, and practical strategy. Vietnam was one of the earliest countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals on gender equality and women's empowerment and is working to implement the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Practice of gender equality

Vu Thi Luu’s family is a poor household in Quang Hung commune, Hung Yen province. With the State support, 10 years ago she brought a valuable rose variety from Dak Lak to Hung Yen. Now selling roses to tea processing establishments gives her a stable income.  

 “Previously, my family was very poor. Now I have 4,600 m² of roses and employ women 65 to 70 years old. I hope the price of our roses will rise and my life will improve. Maybe I can get out of poverty next year,” said Luu.

Stories about women overcoming difficulties, developing production, and helping other women as Vu Thi Luu has done are increasingly common in Vietnam. The International Finance Corporation says Vietnamese female-run enterprises are occupying a more important position in the economy and creating a flexible and effective business model. Vietnam has a higher percentage of women participating in the economy than other countries in the region and is in the top 10 countries in the world for the proportions of women-owned businesses (about 33%).

Vu Thi Quynh, Deputy General Director of the Tomeco Electro-mechanical Company, said: “Many people wonder why the owner of a mechanical business is a long-haired, feminine woman. If they worked here, they would know that a woman with a soft appearance can be as hard as steel. Vietnam’s government policies are much better than before. Women are enjoying more and more rights, such as 6 months of maternity leave. There are business associations for women, credit initiatives for women, and awards for successful women.”

Comprehensive legal framework

Vietnam has been one of the fastest countries at reducing the gender gap over the past 2 decades and one of the 10 best countries for gender equality and female empowerment.

Herve Conan, Country Director of AFD, the French Development Agency in Vietnam, says the Vietnamese government has implemented various policies to promote women’s participation in socio-economic development. Vietnam was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women more than 40 years ago and the Beijing Declaration in 1995.

Vietnam was one of the first countries to give priority to gender equality. The first political thesis of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930 affirmed the pursuit of the goal of ensuring equality between men and women.

Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Head of the UN Agency for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Vietnam, said that, despite the challenges of post-pandemic recovery, natural disasters, and climate change, Vietnam has achieved important milestones in gender equality. She said the Vietnamese government has built a strong legal framework to connect the nation to international conventions. The UN acknowledges Vietnam’s commitment to gender equality in the digital era, to peace and security, and to efforts to increase the economic empowerment of women.

The liberation and comprehensive development of women has been a goal of the Vietnamese revolution. Vietnam has been adopting policies to liberate women and creating conditions for women to develop, which has been praised by the international community. Vietnam is striving to build the foundation of a peaceful, prosperous, comprehensive, and sustainable society.