Yet, women in Vietnam are still largely absent from national and local decision-making bodies, they said, noting the number of female deputies in the 13th National Assembly is at its lowest level in 16 years.
Dr Nguyen Si Dung, former deputy head of the NA Office, in turn said from discrimination and violence to a lack of support and resources, women face countless challenges to participation in the civic and political life in Vietnam.
Dr Nguyen Si Dung, former deputy head of the NA Office, in turn said from discrimination and violence to a lack of support and resources, women face countless challenges to participation in the civic and political life in Vietnam.
Strengthening women’s rights and breaking down the barriers to political and civic participation are critical to achieving gender equality and female empowerment, said Dr Dung.
Nguyen Trong Dam, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs agreed. Mr Dam stressed one of the important goals of the National Strategy on Gender Equality through 2020 is to increase the number of NA female deputies.
The national strategy supports the participation of women in political processes and other decision-making bodies at all levels of the national, provincial and city-wide government.
He pointed out that the Law on Elections of Deputies to the NA and People’s Council stipulates that at least 35% of official candidates for positions to these councils must be women.
Dr Nguyen Si Dung underscored the point that voters should raise their awareness about the role of women in leadership positions and actively support their participation in politics.
Vietnam has made strides in increasing the presence of women in people-elected agencies, from 3% at the first NA to 24.4% at the 13th NA (from 2011 to 2016), Dr Dung noted.
In the six years from 2011-2016 inclusive, women accounted for 25.17% of the deputies in provincial people’s committees, 24.62% at the district level and 21.71% at the commune level.
Nguyen Trong Dam, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs agreed. Mr Dam stressed one of the important goals of the National Strategy on Gender Equality through 2020 is to increase the number of NA female deputies.
The national strategy supports the participation of women in political processes and other decision-making bodies at all levels of the national, provincial and city-wide government.
He pointed out that the Law on Elections of Deputies to the NA and People’s Council stipulates that at least 35% of official candidates for positions to these councils must be women.
Dr Nguyen Si Dung underscored the point that voters should raise their awareness about the role of women in leadership positions and actively support their participation in politics.
Vietnam has made strides in increasing the presence of women in people-elected agencies, from 3% at the first NA to 24.4% at the 13th NA (from 2011 to 2016), Dr Dung noted.
In the six years from 2011-2016 inclusive, women accounted for 25.17% of the deputies in provincial people’s committees, 24.62% at the district level and 21.71% at the commune level.
