Rally in response to World Population Day 2025 - Photo: VGP/NN
Respecting the right to reproductive autonomy of individuals and couples
With the theme “Reproductive autonomy in a changing world”, the message of this year's World Population Day emphasizes respect for the reproductive rights of each individual and couple.
At the ceremony, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan emphasized that the revised Population Ordinance 2025 in our country has just been passed. In it, the right to self-determination on reproduction of individuals and couples is respected, in accordance with health, conditions and completely voluntary. This spirit is not only consistent with the global message, but also a big step forward in population policy thinking in Vietnam.
The Party and State of Vietnam always pay attention to population work and define the viewpoint and orientation in Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW of the 12th Party Central Committee: "Population is the most important factor in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland".
Currently, the Ministry of Health is focusing on developing the Population Law and the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035, aiming to ensure social security, health and equality for all people on the principle of taking people as the center, which is the goal of sustainable national development.
On this occasion, Minister Dao Hong Lan requested ministries, sectors, and localities to continue to pay attention to directing and allocating budgets for population work, especially in the context of changing local governments at two levels; at the same time, actively coordinate in the process of building the Population Law and the National Target Program on Health Care, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035; promote age-appropriate communication and sex education; and strengthen the population data system to effectively serve national development planning.
Panorama of the rally - Photo: VGP/NN
Propose financial incentives for families with only one child
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dung, Director of the Department of Population, the Ministry of Health is proposing a draft Law on Population to submit to the Government, and plans to submit it to the National Assembly for comments and approval at the 10th Session (October 2025) with a number of priorities.
Specifically, the draft prioritizes proposed policies such as: preferential maternity leave, cash or in-kind support when giving birth; support for pregnant and postpartum women when screening prenatally and newbornly; priority access to social housing support policies and other support suitable to the socio-economic development situation of each period...
In addition, propose financial incentives in cash or in kind for families with only one child and two daughters; prescribe measures to reduce gender imbalance at birth suitable for each locality and the whole country...
Building and developing facilities to support and care for the elderly; developing human resources for elderly care such as providing scholarships and tuition fees for students majoring in geriatrics at training facilities in the State health sector.
Prescribe measures for implementing pre-marital health consultation and examination for men and women; prenatal and neonatal screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
And other support measures and policies to maintain replacement fertility; reduce gender imbalance at birth and bring the sex ratio at birth back to natural balance; adapt to population aging and improve population quality.
4 findings from the state of world population report
Also at the rally, Mr. Matt Jackson, UNFPA representative, presented four outstanding findings from the State of World Population Report 2025 based on surveys in 14 countries around the world.
That is, 1 in 5 people are unable to have the number of children they want; more than 50% of people say economic hardship is the main barrier to parenthood; 1 in 3 people have had an unwanted pregnancy; 40% of people over 50 say they are not achieving the family size they want.
UNFPA is committed to continuing to work with the Government of Viet Nam to protect reproductive rights, promote gender equality, expand quality reproductive health services and enhance the capacity of population data systems.
Difficulties to overcome
The Ministry of Health said that, in addition to the achievements, Vietnam is facing difficulties and challenges such as: a sharp decline in birth rate and rapid population aging (in 2024, the birth rate will be only 1.91 children/woman).
Vietnam is also one of the countries with a rapid aging rate due to low birth rate; the gender imbalance at birth has not been improved, the sex ratio at birth is always high; the pregnancy and childbirth rate among underage women tends to increase.
The situation of early marriage and consanguineous marriage in the Central Highlands and the Northern Midlands and Mountains is still very high; the stature, physical strength, and quality of life of people in remote areas and ethnic minority areas are still limited compared to urban and plain areas...
Hien Minh
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/de-xuat-nhieu-uu-tien-chinh-sach-trong-du-thao-luat-dan-so-102250711162324893.htm
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