Thirty years after joining the Beijing Platform for Action – the most comprehensive UN framework for promoting gender equality and empowering women – Vietnam is considered one of the countries that has maintained a fairly clear momentum for reform in this area.
Thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action, Vietnam has made significant progress in gender equality. Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu
"Gender equality is not just a destination, but a long journey towards a more equitable and progressive society where no woman is left behind" - this message in the National Report on 30 Years of Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action reflects a shift in Vietnam's development thinking, moving from viewing it as a social issue to considering it the foundation of inclusive development.
In 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, representatives from 189 countries, including Vietnam, adopted the Beijing Platform for Action with the goal of eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for women in all areas of life.
Three decades later, those commitments are gradually being concretized in Vietnam's legal system, policies, and enforcement mechanisms. Reporters from the Hanoi Press and Broadcasting Agency conducted exclusive interviews with domestic and international experts to gain a concrete understanding of this issue.
Ms. Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam. Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu
The UN Women Representative in Vietnam, Caroline Nyamayemombe, assessed that Vietnam has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and empowering women, particularly in improving the legal framework, increasing women's participation in politics , and integrating gender into development strategies.
According to her, these results provide an important foundation for Vietnam to continue promoting sustainable development in the context of digital transformation and green transformation shaping a new growth model.
Caroline Nyamayemombe believes that Vietnam is maintaining its reform momentum by increasing the participation of women in elected bodies and expanding opportunities in education, science, and innovation.
However, gender stereotypes, the burden of caregiving placed on women, and violence in the digital environment remain significant challenges, requiring women to be placed at the center of digital transformation and green development policies.
Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu
Meanwhile, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, Pauline Tamesis, also stated that Vietnam has demonstrated a clear commitment to ensuring women's right to be heard and strengthening women's protection against domestic violence.
According to her, the United Nations will continue to work alongside Vietnam in promoting women's rights and strengthening South-South cooperation, helping developing countries share experiences and learn from each other in promoting women's rights.
From a domestic perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union, stated that after the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted, Vietnam has gradually integrated gender equality goals into its development strategies, while also enacting numerous related laws and policies to expand women's participation in society.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union. Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu
According to Ms. Huong, the legal system and enforcement mechanisms are increasingly being improved, from expanding legal aid for women and children in difficult circumstances to strengthening coordination in collecting electronic evidence to handle acts of violence and abuse in cyberspace.
Vietnam has also increased investment in gender equality programs in remote areas and ethnic minority regions, while promoting dialogue at the grassroots level to empower women to express their voices and exercise their rights.
However, according to the Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union, much remains to be done, especially in building effective support mechanisms for women who are victims of violence, such as the "one-stop shop" model, while also integrating gender perspectives more deeply into the process of policy and lawmaking.
Ms. Phan Thi Lan Huong, Head of the International Cooperation Department, Hanoi Law University. Photo: Kieu Thoan Thu
From a legal research perspective, Ms. Phan Thi Lan Huong, Head of the International Cooperation Department at Hanoi Law University, noted that the Vietnamese legal system has undergone many important amendments to better ensure the rights of women and children.
According to her, the 2013 Constitution clearly affirms the principle of gender equality and human rights. Many specific regulations have also been improved in the areas of marriage, family, property, and access to land.
The inclusion of the wife's name on land use certificates, consideration of women's contributions to assets during divorce, priority custody rights for children under 36 months old, and a more serious approach to sexual violence demonstrate a significant shift in legal thinking regarding gender equality.
According to the legal expert, cases involving women and children need to be approached through a "gender lens," because simply applying legal regulations mechanically will fail to fully reflect the extent of harm and the social context of the victims.
Experts also believe that the process of promoting gender equality in Vietnam still faces many challenges such as an aging population, persistent prejudices, a lack of in-depth data to assess policy effectiveness, and risks in the increasing digital environment.
After three decades of implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, Vietnam is gradually translating its commitments into concrete changes in laws and policies. Gender equality is therefore not just a matter of women's rights, but is increasingly linked to the quality of social development.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/binh-dang-gioi-tu-cam-ket-chinh-polit-den-thay-doi-thuc-te-748874.html
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