Promoting sustainable gender equality

Affirming role and position in all areas of life

In fact, the great contributions of women to family and society, labor intensity, knowledge and intelligence in labor, working time... of women have made many people change their perception aboutrole of womenMeanwhile, the law and society have honored their status.

Meeting with key female leaders. Photo courtesy of Pham Bang

Women's contributionshas not only created a progressive, civilized society but also developed women themselves. However, there is still a large gap between the role and social status of women. Women account for 50.2% of the population, 49% of the workforce (equivalent to men), but women often do heavy, low-paid jobs or are present in many informal economic sectors. The unemployment rate of female workers is quite high compared to male workers due to health limitations, maternity leave and childcare, and low opportunities to find suitable jobs after giving birth.

Chairwoman of the Provincial Women's Union Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa commended typical advanced individuals at the Conference of typical advanced individuals in the patriotic emulation movement of the Provincial Women's Union, period 2015 - 2020. Photo: Mai Hoa

In our province, in recent times, the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee have issued documents to create conditions and opportunities for women to achieve gender equality in the political field, creating mechanisms to ensure that women are more involved in decision-making processes. The Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee has directed Party committees at all levels to continue to promote the implementation of Resolution 04-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on the human resource development program 2006 - 2011, focusing on implementing Project 02-DA/TU on training and fostering ethnic minority and female cadres. Local levels, departments and branches follow the Decree documents on the planning ratio of female cadres so that the arrangement, appointment, promotion and rotation of female cadres are given attention and implemented in accordance with regulations and procedures.

Female cadres of the Interdisciplinary Union control the implementation of administrative procedures in sectors and units. Photo: Thanh Le

The province has focused on and implemented a drastic and synchronous increase in women's participation in management and leadership positions to gradually reduce the gender gap in the political field. Therefore, the proportion of women participating in the Provincial Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term reached 11.3%, an increase of 3.61% compared to the previous term; The proportion of women participating in the District Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term reached 16.66%, an increase of 1.1% compared to the previous term. The proportion of women participating in the Commune Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term reached 20.6%, an increase of 3.8% compared to the 2010-2015 term. It can be seen that the proportion of women participating in Party committees at all levels has increased over the past 10 years, of which the proportion of women participating in the Commune Party Committee has increased the most with 3.8%.

Business development models and women's start-ups are increasingly being replicated. Photo courtesy of PV

In addition, one of the important goals to promote the elimination of gender gaps is to create the best conditions for women to start their own businesses and develop the family economy. Therefore, sectors and localities at all levels have developed many policies and mechanisms to create jobs, increase income for workers, and provide vocational training for rural workers, including female workers, to contribute to stabilizing their lives, increasing income and contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction in the province.

Reducing the gender gap in the economic, labor and employment sectors; enhancing access of poor rural women and ethnic minority women to economic resources and the labor market has also been promoted. In 2020, the rate of women creating new jobs is estimated at 45.2%, exceeding the set plan; the rate of rural women under 45 years old receiving vocational and technical training in the 2016-2020 period is 20%. The rate of poor rural women and ethnic minority women receiving preferential loans in the 2016-2020 period is 92%, exceeding the plan by 9.52%.

Ensuring gender equality is a prerequisite for socio-economic development.

Awarding certificates of merit to individuals and groups with achievements at the Conference summarizing 10 years of implementing the National Strategy on Gender Equality. Photo courtesy of Pham Bang

In order to ensure gender equality in the family sector and gradually eliminate gender-based violence, the Provincial People's Committee has issued documents guiding implementation such as: Decision No. 1917/QD - UBND.VX on approving the plan to implement the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control in Nghe An province for the period 2012 - 2015; Decision No. 1643/QD-UBND.VX dated May 7, 2013 on developing the Plan to implement the "Vietnam Family Development Strategy to 2020, vision to 2030 in Nghe An province"; Plan No. 511/KH - UBND dated August 24, 2015 on implementing the project "Promoting the good values ​​of relationships in happy and sustainable families" to 2020 in Nghe An province.

In fact, the rate of domestic violence victims is still high, the rate of domestic violence perpetrators detected and counseled at violence prevention counseling facilities in the period of 2016 - 2020 is 85%. From 2011 to present, the Provincial Police have synchronously and drastically deployed working measures, launched 11 peak periods to attack and suppress human trafficking crimes. As a result, 137 cases and 256 human trafficking criminals were discovered and arrested, of which 80% of victims received support services to reintegrate into the community, reaching 80% of the plan for the period of 2016 - 2020.

Representatives of leaders of districts, towns and cities signed a commitment to effectively implement the work of preventing and combating domestic violence. Photo courtesy of Cong Kien

To overcome gender-based violence affecting women, it is necessary to change perceptions, eliminate gender stereotypes and raise awareness of gender equality. Furthermore, it is necessary to promote propaganda on gender equality, gradually eliminating backward and outdated customs and practices that contain gender stereotypes. Regularly organize seminars, activities and talks on gender equality in agencies, units and residential areas.

Launching ceremony of Action Month against domestic violence. Photo courtesy of Cong Kien

Integrate gender equality work into the political tasks of agencies, units and socio-economic development programs of localities. Strictly handle cases of violations and gender discrimination to deter society. These cases need to be widely publicized in many forms such as: organizing mobile courts; oral propaganda in residential groups and residential areas; integrating into local radio and television programs to create the best spillover effect, enough to warn and deter people so that they know and do not violate.

Although the law has specific provisions prohibiting gender discrimination, in practice it is necessary to ensure the implementation mechanism of these provisions. It is necessary to raise awareness among employees and employers about the economic and social benefits of gender equality and especially change the mindset of employers to eliminate prejudices and barriers against both men and women.

In addition, competent state agencies need to have a mechanism to monitor labor establishments in implementing maternity regimes, providing and socializing child care support services to create the best conditions for both male and female workers; ensuring that women and men are given equal opportunities in training programs, fostering professional qualifications, improving skills; in emulation and rewards...

Not only the relevant departments and agencies in implementing gender equality have the function and task of advising on gender equality work, gradually eliminating the gender gap in social life, but all areas of life need to raise gender awareness in their activities to promote the role and position of women, and at the same time affirm: Women and men in any field have the ability to contribute, enjoy, and have the same rights.