Nghe An organizes a communication program in response to International Day of the Girl Child

On the morning of October 7, in Que Phong district, Nghe An Department of Health organized a communication program in response to International Day of the Girl Child (October 11).

Attending the ceremony were comrade Nguyen Ba Tan - Head of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning. On the side of Que Phong district, there were comrade Truong Minh Cuong - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Secretary of the District Party Committee, Chairman of the District People's Council and representatives of a number of relevant departments and offices. Photo: My Ha.

This year’s International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated with the theme “Enhancing the role and status of girls, contributing to reducing gender imbalance at birth”. This is an important program of activities that highlights the role of Party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, branches, and organizations. Especially the people on the importance of children’s work, especially girls.

Previously, on December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 every year to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child to create more opportunities for girls and raise awareness of gender inequality including in the fields of education, nutrition, health, protection from discrimination, violence and no more child marriage.

Art program responding to the International Day of the Girl Child communication program performed by teachers of Que Phong district. Photo: My Ha

In Vietnam, since the 1999 population and housing census, the sex ratio at birth was 107 boys/100 girls, 10 years later this ratio was 110.5 (in 2009) and increased to 114.8 (in 2019), until now, this ratio still fluctuates around the threshold of 112.2 boys/100 girls.

Gender imbalance at birth tends to continue to increase and spread in rural, urban areas and all regions.

Comrade Nguyen Ba Tan - Head of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning spoke at the ceremony. Photo: My Ha

In Nghe An, the sex ratio at birth has increased from 111 boys/100 girls (in 2009) to 114 boys/100 girls (in 2019). In Que Phong district alone, the sex ratio at birth in 2006 was 106/100, but by 2019, this ratio was at 124/100 (among the highest in the province). Meanwhile, the normal biological birth rate is only 105 - 107 boys/100 girls born.

According to forecasts, the imbalance in gender ratio at birth will negatively affect the population structure of Vietnam in the future, leading to a surplus of men in society. Without timely interventions, it is predicted that by 2050 Vietnam will be short of 2.3 to 4.3 million women.

Gender imbalance at birth can cause serious consequences for the country's economic and social development and affect the lives of women, men, families and communities, causing long-term social and demographic consequences such as increasing pressure on girls to marry early, increasing prostitution, HIV/AIDS, trafficking of women and children and other forms of domestic violence against women and girls, increasing gender inequality, divorce, social instability, decline in overall health, reproductive health...

Leaders of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning presented gifts to students in Que Phong district. Photo: My Ha

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Ba Tan - Head of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning said: In recent years, to contribute to raising social awareness of gender equality, the Population sector has invested heavily in communication work.

That is the implementation of a series of RH projects, in which, typically organizing activities such as: "Ring the Golden Bell to learn about RH knowledge", giving gifts to girls in difficult circumstances who have achieved high academic achievements; The industry has also organized many exciting and attractive activities to convey the message: "Being a girl is great", "Giving equality - Receiving love" or "Giving wings to dreams for girls", "Being a girl to shine"...

Building on the achievements made, this year’s International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated with the message “Girls deserve to be protected and loved!”. This means that adolescent girls have the right to a safe, healthy and educated life, not only during their crucial formative years, but also when they become women. Investing in the potential of adolescent girls will protect their rights today and ensure a fairer and more prosperous future.

Authorities and people of Que Phong district marched in response to International Day of the Girl Child. Photo: My Ha

Through this campaign, the head of the Population sector also hopes to receive the active participation of men and boys to join hands to address inequality, injustice and violence against girls and women.

On this occasion, the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning and the People's Committee of Que Phong district presented 20 gifts to students in the district./.