Protect and care for women and children, contributing to promoting gender equality

STO - In 2023, the Soc Trang Provincial Women's Union will focus on implementing Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children". This is an activity of great significance for gender work and gender equality, especially for women and children in ethnic minority areas. To better understand the activities that the project brings, we had an interview with Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hang - Permanent Vice President of the Soc Trang Provincial Women's Union.

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Hang - Permanent Vice President of Soc Trang Provincial Women's Union.

Reporter: Could you please give us an overview of Project 8 “Achieving gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children”?

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Hang : Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children" under the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas, period 2021 - 2030, phase I from 2021 to 2025 in Soc Trang province includes 4 main contents. In particular, focusing on propaganda and mobilization to change "thinking and doing" to contribute to eliminating gender prejudices and stereotypes in families and communities, harmful customs and some urgent social issues for women and children. Building and replicating models of changing "thinking and doing", enhancing economic empowerment for women; promoting gender equality. In addition, it also ensures the voice and substantive participation of women and children in socio-economic development activities of the community, monitoring and social criticism; Support women to participate in leadership in the political system. At the same time, equip knowledge about gender equality and skills to implement gender mainstreaming for officials in the political system, religious dignitaries and prestigious people in the community.

Reporter: What are the project's objects, locations and implementation targets, sir?

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Hang : The beneficiaries of the project are women and girls in especially difficult communes and hamlets, with priority given to women and girls from ethnic minorities in poor and near-poor households, victims of trafficking, domestic violence, sexual abuse, unsafe labor migration, returning from marriages abroad, and people with disabilities.

The implementation areas are communes, hamlets, and wards in ethnic minority areas, with priority given to resources for particularly difficult areas. For Soc Trang province, Project 8 is implemented in 42 communes of 9 districts and towns, including: Thanh Tri, My Xuyen, Chau Thanh, My Tu, Ke Sach, Long Phu, Tran De, Vinh Chau town and Nga Nam town. Each year, the number of hamlets will be changed to implement the project.

By 2025, Project 8 will implement a number of key targets such as establishing 118 community communication groups; 14 trusted addresses in the community; 40 self-managed savings and loan groups will be consolidated, quality improved or newly established and maintained; 7 Livelihood groups or groups with women as owners or co-owners (livelihood groups, groups, cooperatives) apply 4.0 technology in production. In addition, 80% of ethnic minority women of childbearing age are educated andinformed about safe motherhood and child health care. 24 child change leader clubs have been established to enhance capacity and support organizational activities. 58 policy dialogues have been organized at commune and hamlet levels. 50 ethnic minority female cadres at district and commune levels (including female cadres in planning for leadership positions, newly appointed female cadres, and female cadres elected for the first time) have had their capacity enhanced.

Reporter: Specifically, what will the project implement in 2023?

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Hang : In 2023 alone, the Provincial Association has directed the establishment of 60 community communication teams; 14 safe addresses (trusted addresses in the community); organized 9 training courses on guiding, operating and managing communication teams. At the same time, organized training courses on supporting activities for livelihood groups, cooperatives, cooperatives with women as owners or co-owners in applying science and technology. Operated the "Leaders of Change" club; guided mid-term monitoring and evaluation of gender equality in the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority Areas. Organized 10 training courses for women cadres at all levels according to Program 2 on enhancing gender mainstreaming capacity and Program 3 on promoting gender equality in the community.

The project-implementing associations organized 400 communication sessions, sharing and updating information on building a communication network on a digital platform; 110 communication sessions at hamlets and quarters implementing the project; 9 communication campaigns at the grassroots level and communication associated with branch and women's association meetings on safe motherhood and child health care; 27 policy dialogues...

Reporter: What do the associations at all levels hope for after the project is implemented? What impact will it have on women and children, especially women and children in ethnic minority areas?

Comrade Tran Thi Thu Hang: Through the project, along with the activities of the association movement, we hope to contribute to raising awareness, changing prejudices, taking care of material and spiritual life, protecting and caring for women and children. Helping women and children to be more confident in protecting themselves and enjoying legitimate and legal rights. Reducing child abuse in schools and communities. In addition, association officials at all levels will also be enhanced in their capacity to integrate gender in the implementation of national target programs, as well as professional tasks.

Reporter: Thank you, comrade!

XUAN HUONG (Implementation)

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