On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, UN Women Representative in Vietnam, Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, assessed Vietnam's progress and efforts in promoting gender equality and made recommendations for a more inclusive and equal digital transformation process.
Ms. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Representative in Vietnam. (Source: UN Women)
How would you rate Vietnam's progress and efforts in ensuring women's rights over the past time?
Over the past years, the Government of Vietnam has made significant progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG5 on gender equality. I would like to point out three key achievements:
One is a solid legal framework that promotes gender equality. For example, there is the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence, the National Strategy on Gender Equality (2021-2030)...
Second, women's participation in the political system is increasing. In the 2021 National Assembly election, the proportion of female National Assembly deputies increased to 30%, the highest since 1976.
Third is the high participation of women in the workforce. This rate is almost as high as that of men (72% for women compared to 82% for men).
However, despite these achievements, there are still some issues that need attention. First, there is a 13% gender pay gap and women workers are often concentrated in low-paid, low-skilled jobs in the informal sector.
In addition, rates of violence against women and girls remain relatively high (63% of married women have experienced some form of violence by their husbands). Meanwhile, there are still some groups of women who need special attention, such as ethnic minority women and girls, women with disabilities, women living with HIV, women living in rural areas or areas affected by natural disasters or climate change, and female migrant workers.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”. How do you evaluate the efforts of the Vietnamese Government in collaboration with international organizations to improve access for women and girls in the digital transformation period?
In Vietnam, innovation and technology have always been at the top of the Government’s priority list. In recent years, Vietnam has made many policy efforts to improve people’s access to digital technology , including women and girls.
According to the “National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030” approved by the Prime Minister on June 3, 2020 (Decision No. 749/QD-TTg), innovation and technology have become priorities of the Government as well as ministries and branches in recent years. Digital transformation has a profound impact, covering all industries and socio-economic fields, contributing to increasing labor productivity, transforming operating and business models towards innovation, thereby enhancing the country's competitiveness.
In addition, innovation and technology are often considered male-dominated fields. In recent years, women have gradually gained certain advantages in technology, with more job opportunities. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), female workers account for about 37% of the workforce in the technology sector in Vietnam, higher than the world average (25%).
Gender diversity is also a factor that technology companies in Vietnam are interested in to help them create good, safe products that are suitable for the majority of users. However, the majority of women working in the technology field still mainly take on other positions such as testing, marketing, sales, administration and human resources, rather than technical roles such as software development staff.
In fact, gender stereotypes still exist that affect the role of women in the technology sector. Therefore, how to break down barriers and empower women comprehensively is also a challenge for many businesses operating in the technology sector in Vietnam today.
Policy dialogue 'Gender equality in digital transformation in Vietnam: Opportunities and challenges' on March 3. (Source: UN Women)
So what recommendations do you have to improve the position of women in technology and innovation?
This year’s priority theme for International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to review the gender impacts of innovation and technology, and identify recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable digital transformation in Vietnam.
In that context, UN Women would like to propose some discussion proposals as follows:
First, it is important to ensure gender perspectives in national digital policies and amendments with gender-specific indicators, targets, time limits and resource allocation for full implementation.
Second, governments and all stakeholders need to further strengthen and promote quality education for women and girls, especially in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Third, to mitigate the adverse, gendered impacts of digitalization, it is necessary to anticipate and anticipate future job and skill needs for women.
Fourth , to inform gender-responsive policies, governments need to increase data collection to better understand the full range of gender dimensions related to innovation and technology; and address online gender-based violence. Online gender-based violence also needs to be included in relevant laws.
What programs is UN Women currently implementing to promote gender equality in Vietnam in general and realize the theme "Innovation and technology for gender equality" this year?
UN Women supports the Government of Viet Nam in fulfilling its commitments to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, advance women's rights, and promote equality between women and men, boys and girls, and across genders.
We also provide technical advice and support to the Government of Vietnam in implementing policies and programmes to promote women’s leadership and participation in decision-making at all levels, in the peace and security agenda; prevent and effectively respond to gender-based violence in the home and public sphere; enhance women’s economic empowerment through access to social services, resources and decent work opportunities; and advise on appropriate planning and resource allocation to promote gender equality at the national level.
In addition, UN Women also carries out campaigns and communication activities to eliminate gender stereotypes so that all women, men, boys, girls and other genders can develop their full potential.
Regarding the activity “Innovation and technology for gender equality”, UN Women coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to organize a Policy Dialogue on the occasion of International Women's Day to discuss the current situation related to gender equality in digital transformation in Vietnam, thereby jointly proposing solutions and proposing policies to improve/strengthen this issue.
The United Nations in Viet Nam, led by UN Women and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) in technical leadership, is developing a policy brief with in-depth situational analysis and specific recommendations. At the same time, UN Women is supporting the Government of Viet Nam to amend the Law on Gender Equality towards improving institutions and policies to promote gender equality in the digital transformation process.
On this special day of women around the world, what message do you have for Vietnamese women?
On International Women's Day 2023, I would like to send my best wishes to all Vietnamese women and look forward to further progress on gender equality as part of the 2030 Agenda on SDGs so that all women and girls in Vietnam can enjoy life in a fairer, more equal and better world online and offline!
Thank you!
(baoquocte.vn)
Source
Comment (0)