Striving for equality and development
(Baonghean) - Aiming towards the ideal of Vietnamese women in the era of industrialization and modernization – "healthy, knowledgeable, skilled, dynamic, creative, cultured, and compassionate" – over the past five years, the emulation movement "Women actively studying, working creatively, and building happy families" has been widely implemented by all levels of the Nghe An Women's Union, closely linked with the movement "All people unite to build a cultured life in residential areas" and the movement "Excellent in national affairs, capable in household affairs". The movement has truly become a part of the lives of women of all social strata, creating motivation to encourage them to actively study to improve their skills, work creatively, organize their family life well, develop the economy, prevent social evils, achieve gender equality, and strive to build families that are "prosperous, equal, progressive, and happy". By the end of the term, 100% of officials, 95% of members, and 65% of women participated in training and registered to implement the movement's standards; of which 100% of officials, 72% of members, and 50% of women met the movement's standards.
Gender Equality Law Contest in Nghi Xuan Commune (Nghi Loc District) Photo: TP
The campaign "Studying and following the moral example of Ho Chi Minh" and the movement to build "Houses of Love" have been strongly promoted by women's associations at all levels through extensive and in-depth propaganda and education; with various forms and content suitable to each region and each group of women, focusing on selecting pilot sites to build models for wider replication. The Provincial Women's Union has directed units to organize preliminary and comprehensive reviews to draw lessons and replicate the "Rice Savings Jar" and "Money Savings Box" models. After more than four years of implementing the "Learning and Following the Moral Example of Ho Chi Minh" campaign, cadres and members in the province have saved money, rice, and other materials worth nearly 9.3 billion VND to help disadvantaged families, those affected by natural disasters, and poor families overcome difficulties. Since its launch, the "Shelter of Love" campaign has mobilized cadres and female members in the province to donate money, materials, and hundreds of thousands of man-days of labor, building 193 new shelters and repairing 371 shelters for extremely poor women, single mothers, and disabled women, worth over 4 billion VND. Implementing the "Skilled Mass Mobilization" emulation movement, the Provincial Women's Union has coordinated with the Provincial Military Command to direct the construction of a model of skillful mass mobilization: "Propagating and disseminating laws to ethnic minority women" in Thanh Son commune, Thanh Chuong district; and directed districts, cities, and towns to build 85 "Skilled Mass Mobilization" models in their localities. Maintain and promote the "Women and the Law" club model and the legal library.
In order to improve the monitoring skills of its staff, the various levels of the Association have organized more than 20 training courses on social monitoring and criticism for key officials from the provincial to the grassroots level on "Enhancing the capacity of Association officials in inspection and monitoring work".
Women's Union branches at all levels have focused on investing in research and contributing opinions to draft laws on preventing domestic violence and preventing human trafficking; proactively contributing opinions to draft documents of Party Congresses at all levels, Party resolutions, and participating in the development of plans and socio-economic development programs of the locality; and proactively coordinating with relevant sectors to advise the Provincial People's Committee on effectively implementing the goals set out in the Action Plan for the Advancement of Women in Nghe An province for the period 2006-2010. The Provincial Women's Union, in coordination with the Committee for the Advancement of Women, organized four training courses for 400 female candidates for the Provincial People's Council for the 2011-2016 term. They directed Women's Union branches at all levels to promote their advisory role in creating a pool of female cadres and introducing outstanding women to the Party, meticulously preparing female personnel, and proactively proposing and nominating candidates for the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels. Annual results show that the percentage of female party members admitted accounts for 40-45% of the total number of new party members admitted in the province. Three out of 13 female delegates (23.07%) participated in the 13th National Assembly, an increase of 3.07% compared to the previous term. The percentage of women participating as delegates in the People's Councils at three levels is: 28% at the district level (an increase of 2.5% compared to the previous term), 23% at the commune level (an increase of 2.3% compared to the previous term), and 17.6% at the provincial level.
The Women's Union's legal counseling network has been established and is beginning to show effectiveness. The Women's Union's participation in mediation groups at the grassroots level has been effective, gradually meeting the needs of its members and women in general. The Union at all levels has developed and implemented plans to monitor the implementation of laws and policies related to women, children, and social welfare policies, such as: the enforcement of judgments, property division and child custody after divorce, short-term vocational training support policies for rural workers, and monitoring the implementation of laws and policies related to women and children.
The efforts and growth of women in Nghe An over the past five years have contributed to promoting gender equality and the comprehensive and sustainable development of the women's movement throughout the province. This has affirmed the contribution and position of women from President Ho Chi Minh's homeland in the national women's movement, playing a crucial role in helping the Party Committee and people of Nghe An successfully achieve their goals and determination to make Nghe An a prosperous province in the northern region.
Hoang Thi Kim Oanh
