Need to create conditions for female candidates in the election

Increasing the proportion of female representatives in the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels not only implements gender equality according to the Party's policy but also aims to promote the role of women in the country's renewal and international integration. In the election of National Assembly and People's Council deputies at all levels for the 2016-2021 term, creating opportunities for female candidates is very necessary and needs attention.

Active female voter participation is a solution to increase the chances of female candidates winning the election.

Currently, in the political field, the proportion of women participating in management and leadership at all levels and in all sectors is increasing. According to data from the Central Organizing Committee, the number of female members elected at Party congresses at all levels is shown through the following notable figures: At the grassroots level, the proportion of women accounts for 19.69%, 3.26% higher than the previous term; at the level directly above the grassroots level, the proportion of women accounts for 14.3%, 0.3% higher than the previous term; at the level directly under the Central Committee, the proportion of women accounts for 13.3%, 1.9% higher than the previous term; At the 12th National Congress of the Party, the proportion of female cadres was 20 comrades, accounting for 10% (the 11th term was 8.13%), with 3 women participating in the Politburo and Secretariat. The results demonstrate that women can participate in appropriate proportions in management and leadership bodies and they can perform assigned tasks as well as men.

Experiences in preparing personnel for Party congresses at all levels are very meaningful in the context that all levels and sectors are actively preparing personnel for the election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2016-2020 term.

One of the issues of concern today is how to ensure that at least 35% of the total number of people on the official candidate list are women as stipulated in Articles 8 and 9 of the Law on Election of National Assembly Deputies and People's Council Deputies in 2015. To achieve this target, it is necessary to have a higher proportion of female candidates. However, according to Ms. Pham Thi Hai Chuyen - Chairwoman of the National Committee for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, data from previous elections shows that the proportion of female deputies to the 13th National Assembly is only 24.4%, a significant decrease and the lowest in the last 4 terms; in the 20 years from 1987 - 2007, female deputies to the National Assembly only increased by nearly 4%.

In local elected bodies, the proportion of female People's Council delegates for the 2011-2016 term at the provincial and centrally-run city levels was 25.17%; at the district, town and provincial levels was 24.62% and at the commune, ward and township levels was 21.71%. Although this result has increased compared to the last 3 terms, the increase only fluctuated around 2%. In the official list of candidates for the National Assembly, there are only 31% of female candidates, of which the number of female candidates introduced by the Central Government is 12%. Thus, in general, the proportion of women participating in the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels compared to the target of Resolution No. 11-NQ/TW of the Politburo and the National Strategy on Gender Equality for the 2011-2020 period is still quite far.

On May 22, 2016, voters nationwide will elect deputies to the 14th National Assembly and People's Councils for the 2016-2021 term. Personnel preparation work is being actively implemented by all levels and sectors. Ms. Bui Thi Thanh - Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front said that in order to ensure the proportion of female candidates as prescribed by the Law on Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels, Party committees at all levels need to clearly orient the policy of gender equality in the election process, from the stage of planning personnel to the stage of election. Agencies, organizations and units expected to allocate candidates must be places with conditions to be able to introduce female candidates; ensuring gender balance when allocating the number of candidates. Female candidates do not bear too much of the structure. In the process of introducing candidates of agencies, organizations and units, there must be a high level of consensus between the head and the Party Committee, Trade Union, and Women's Union (if any) on the number and quality of candidates introduced. The introduction must be equal, with equivalent positions and titles, overcoming the situation of introducing female structure with the meaning of being a "cushion" for male or female leaders.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha - Head of the Propaganda Department, Central Propaganda Department, at this time, it is necessary to promote extensive propaganda to all classes of people about the election work. Propaganda work needs to focus on 2 subjects, including: Leaders at all levels directly related to the election work (leaders of the Party, government, Fatherland Front, Women's Union and mass organizations) - those who have important voices and opinions in deciding to introduce women to run for election and voters - those who directly vote for women. This work needs to be done regularly, persistently, with many appropriate forms and means to increase the effect and achieve high efficiency.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha suggested focusing on propaganda through methods such as: visual propaganda; through activities of branches and women's groups; propaganda on mass media to create public opinion in support of female candidates. It is especially necessary to promote the role of the reporting team and oral propaganda. Currently, the reporting team at the central level has 387 comrades; at the provincial level and equivalent has 3,310 comrades; at the district level and equivalent has 21,300 comrades along with a large number of propagandists at all levels, especially Women's Union officials to introduce women to run for election, at the same time propagandize and mobilize voters to actively vote for female candidates...

The National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels are the highest organs of State power at the central and local levels, representing the will and aspirations of the people. These organs must include representatives from all classes and social groups, including women.

The participation of female representatives in the National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels is necessary not only because they are a social class but also because women account for 50% of the population. Through the activities of the National Assembly and People’s Councils, female representatives will have the opportunity to reflect and express their aspirations, ensuring the legitimate rights of women. Therefore, voting for women is for the future development of the country and the nation./.

According to Dangcongsan