Building Vietnamese women to develop and integrate with modern values

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a congratulatory speech at the Congress. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Dear leaders and former leaders of the Party and State!

Dear Presidium of the Congress!
Dear Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, delegates and distinguished guests!

Today, I am very pleased to attend the 13th National Women's Congress - an important event in the country's political and social life, determining the strategic direction and vision for women's work and gender equality in the coming time. This is also a great festival for Vietnamese women.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I warmly welcome the distinguished guests, the heroic Vietnamese mothers, and the 959 official delegates - outstanding women from all over the country, who have gathered in the thousand-year-old capital of Hanoi to attend the Congress. I would like to send to you, the delegates, comrades, friends and all women across the country my warm greetings, kind regards and best wishes. Wishing the Congress great success!

Dear Congress!

Throughout the history of building and defending the country, regardless of the period or circumstances, with courage, will, determination, compassion, kindness, sacrifice and efforts to rise up, Vietnamese women have overcome all adversities, barriers, prejudices, difficulties and obstacles, making great contributions and dedication, contributing to the construction and solid protection of the beautiful country of Vietnam.

President Ho Chi Minh praised: “Our women are not ordinary; fighting in the East and the North sets an example for all generations.” He also dedicated to Vietnamese women eight golden words: “Heroic, indomitable, loyal, and courageous.”

In recent years, the women's movement and gender equality in our country have achieved great achievements. Accounting for more than 50% of the population and nearly 48% of the social labor force, Vietnamese women are present and actively participate in all areas of economic and social life, in all regions of the country. Women of all classes have promoted the tradition of solidarity and creativity in studying, working and working; achieved many outstanding achievements in the fields of politics, economics, culture, society, security, national defense, foreign affairs...; are a particularly important factor in building a prosperous, equal, progressive and happy family; preserving and promoting national cultural identity; contributing to maintaining political security, social order and safety; enhancing the role, position and prestige of our country in the international arena.

The report of the Vietnam Women's Union presented at the Congress was very profound, comprehensive and complete. Looking back over the past 5 years, Vietnamese women and all levels of the Union have actively and effectively participated in the common efforts of the political system and the whole society, helping the country overcome many difficulties and challenges, successfully implementing key goals and tasks, achieving many very important and quite comprehensive achievements, creating outstanding marks. The material and spiritual life of women has been increasingly improved. The role of the subject and the influence of women in the family and society have been increasingly raised. The women's movement continues to develop, making positive contributions to the innovation of the Party, State and people in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The proportion of women participating in leadership and management work is increasing. The proportion of female committee members at all levels has increased compared to the previous term. The proportion of female National Assembly deputies is over 30%, higher than the world and regional average, ranking first in the Inter-Parliamentary Union Council of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The proportion of female officials and ministerial-level agencies with key female leaders is 50%. The human resource of female scientific researchers has increased significantly.

The rate of women-owned businesses reached 26.5%, ranking 9th out of 58 countries and economies studied; many female entrepreneurs are prestigious and highly ranked in the region and the world. In the fields of culture and sports, many women have won regional and international awards. Female ambassadors, female diplomats, female police officers, female soldiers participating in UN peacekeeping activities have become "messengers" of peace, friendship, cooperation and development of our country in foreign affairs activities...

It can be affirmed that the enduring and great contributions of successive generations of women in our country increasingly embellish the fine traditions of Vietnamese women and continue to affirm the praise of beloved Uncle Ho: "The brocade mountains and rivers of Vietnam are woven and embroidered by our women, young and old, to make them more beautiful and brilliant."

Dear Congress!

Over the past 5 years, the Vietnam Women's Union has actively and effectively implemented the Resolution of the 12th National Women's Congress with 2 breakthroughs, 3 key tasks, and 6 major groups of solutions. The Union has promoted its core role in women's work and gender equality; increasingly performed its function of representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of women. The Union is a bridge between the Party and its members and women; participated in building the Party, the government and the political system, and building the great national unity bloc.

I appreciate the fact that the Vietnam Women's Union has proactively researched and proposed contents to promote gender equality in the 3 National Target Programs for the period 2021-2025 and chaired the implementation of the content "Cultivating Vietnamese family values" in the National Target Program on new rural construction.

The Union at all levels has proactively improved the apparatus of specialized agencies, improved working methods and styles, and enhanced the capacity of the staff. The content and methods of operation continue to be innovated, focusing on the grassroots, close to the target group of members and women; there are many solutions to expand solidarity, attract, mobilize, and propagate women of all classes; strengthen coordination with all levels, sectors and the whole society to solve many problems of women, families, children...

The Association has well organized the emulation movement "Women actively study, work creatively, build happy families" and two campaigns "Training moral qualities: self-confidence, self-respect, honesty, responsibility", "Building a family of 5 no, 3 clean"; effectively implemented the Program Accompanying women in the border areas. The Association has many very creative and effective models to support, help and protect women and children such as "TYM Microfinance Organization"...

Over the past two years, in the context of the country facing many difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic, promoting the spirit of solidarity, mutual love and responsibility, the Union at all levels together with cadres, members and women across the country have united and joined efforts to actively participate in the fight against the epidemic with many good practices and creative and effective models. Many practical and meaningful programs have been organized, bearing the mark of the Union and women, contributing to increasing trust and spreading good deeds in the community and society. Typical programs are the programs "Godmother", "Millions of gifts to share love"...

In particular, many female medical staff and female soldiers have put aside all their personal concerns and volunteered to go to the front line to fight the epidemic to save every breath and every life of patients affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. Many female entrepreneurs, poor mothers, nuns, female artists, grandmothers, mothers, sisters... regardless of age, profession, religion or young girls in difficult areas, save every penny, save every bunch of vegetables, eggs, kilos of meat... to send to the front line.

Those noble actions and gestures have affirmed the role and contribution of the Association, joining hands with the political system to achieve "multi-goals", both effectively preventing and fighting the epidemic, recovering and developing the socio-economy, taking care of social security; firmly ensuring national defense, security, order, social safety and actively integrating deeply into the international community.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders, I warmly congratulate, acknowledge and commend the great achievements of the women's movement and the Vietnam Women's Union in the past term. Welcoming, acknowledging and thanking the close leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, the close coordination of the government, the Fatherland Front, ministries, branches, unions, and the support and assistance of the people and the business community in the work of women and gender equality.

On this occasion, I would also like to thank the support and effective cooperation of international friends and partners in the cause of promoting gender equality and the development of Vietnamese women and children and the Association.

Dear comrades, delegates and guests!

In addition to the positive and significant results mentioned above, we also frankly point out that, over the past 5 years, the women's movement and the activities of the Women's Union still have shortcomings, limitations and face many difficulties and challenges. The movement is not really comprehensive, strong, even, and has not yet fully aroused and promoted the potential and creativity of women in all fields.

In some places, the way of organizing emulation movements and campaigns is still formal, unattractive and impractical. The work of propaganda, education and building comprehensively developed women has not met the requirements. Grasping the thoughts and feelings; understanding and sharing the difficulties in life and work of members and women in some localities is still limited. The effectiveness of coordination, resource mobilization, monitoring and social criticism has not been as expected. The concretization of the Party and State's policies and guidelines in some areas and for women is still slow. Awareness and actions to protect the safety of women and children have not changed significantly. The representative role as well as speaking up to protect women and children in some cases of abuse are not really strong, practical and effective...

With respect and a high sense of responsibility towards women across the country, I propose that delegates attending the Congress exchange, discuss and clearly analyze the causes, especially the subjective and internal causes of the Women's Union organization, to find solutions to overcome and further improve the quality and effectiveness of the women's movement and the Union's activities in the coming time.

Dear Congress, dear delegates!

The 13th National Women's Congress took place in the context that after more than 35 years of renovation, the country's position, prestige and potential have been raised, creating new positions and strength for women. Opportunities, advantages, difficulties and challenges are intertwined: the fourth industrial revolution; increasingly deep international integration; natural disasters, epidemics, climate change and non-traditional security issues; global economic crisis; armed conflicts; rapid industrialization and urbanization; population aging; gender inequality... have strongly impacted the lives, jobs and movements of women, as well as the organization and activities of our Women's Union.

Women have more jobs with higher incomes, but the risk of unemployment for female workers with limited qualifications and expertise is also high. Women have many opportunities to be creative, develop the economy, and improve their lives, but women in mountainous, remote, border, island areas, ethnic minority women, disabled women, single women, elderly women, migrant women... will face more difficulties in the current situation. The gap between rich and poor and the difference in benefits between groups of women is increasing.

In addition, there are many issues that negatively affect women that need continued attention and resolution, such as: Poverty, epidemics, domestic violence, drugs, prostitution, HIV/AIDS infection, especially violence, abuse, and trafficking of women and children, which are increasingly sophisticated, complicated, and serious; increasing new types of crimes, high-tech crimes related to women and children...

To achieve the country's development goals in the coming time, it is necessary to promote the strength of national solidarity, in which the role of our women is very important. The 13th National Party Congress has pointed out: Promoting the tradition, potential, strengths and spirit of mastery, the aspiration to rise of all classes of women; building Vietnamese women of the new era; improving the quality of female human resources, meeting the requirements of sustainable development and international integration; strengthening development programs, supporting the updating of knowledge, techniques and skills for women in difficult circumstances, ethnic minority and mountainous areas; perfecting and implementing well the laws and policies related to women, children and gender equality; resolutely and strictly handling according to the law social evils, acts of violence, trafficking and abuse of women and children.

I basically agree with the direction and tasks for the 2022-2027 term, the goals, breakthroughs and key tasks set out in the Congress's report. In the coming period, so that the Association can affirm and enhance its core role in women's work, become a professional and effective organization, proactively participate in solving women's issues, and mobilize society to achieve gender equality goals in the region and internationally, I would like to emphasize and suggest a number of issues for the Congress to discuss, consider and decide:

Firstly, women and the Vietnam Women's Union need to grasp, thoroughly grasp, and concretize the viewpoints, policies, and guidelines of the Party, especially the Documents of the 13th National Party Congress; have specific, strong, and feasible solutions and measures to bring the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State into life. Strengthen propaganda, education, and mobilize women of all walks of life to well implement the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State, promote the role, potential, and strengths of women in all fields and localities; at the same time, do a better job of caring for and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of women. Focus on synchronously implementing solutions to build Vietnamese women to develop and integrate with the values ​​of the times associated with preserving and promoting the traditional values ​​of the Vietnamese people: patriotism, solidarity, loyalty, responsibility, self-reliance, loyalty, honesty, responsibility, creativity, and comprehensive development.

Closely link the movements, campaigns and activities of the Association with the political tasks and socio-economic development of the locality and the country. Ensure the interests of the association, its members and women are linked with the national and ethnic interests. Proactively propose to competent authorities for the Association to participate in solving practical issues of concern to society and women such as: Building housing facilities, kindergartens and organizing activities to serve the cultural and spiritual life of female workers in industrial zones; supporting elderly women, single women, women in difficult and disadvantaged circumstances, orphans...

Second, the Women's Union at all levels needs to continue to improve its organization, innovate its content and methods of operation to become a professional and effective organization for the comprehensive development of women and the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. Continue to affirm its role and position as a pioneering organization for gender equality and the development of Vietnamese women, with influence in the region and in the international arena.

It is necessary to diversify the content of activities, focusing on the grassroots; grasp the situation and handle well the problems arising from the grassroots, participate well in the implementation of mediation work at the grassroots; promote administrative reform and apply information technology in the direction, operation and implementation of the Association's activities. Actively advise and propose mechanisms and policies on women's work, female cadre work; laws and policies on gender equality, first of all, policies to ensure social security, linked to practical issues for women, especially specific and disadvantaged groups of women. The Association needs to expand its solidarity, widely gather women; diversify the forms of gathering to attract a large number of women from all walks of life to join the Association, especially young women, in industrial zones, women in rural areas, mountainous areas, remote areas, disadvantaged areas, ethnic and religious areas.

Promote the potential and creativity of women, especially those who have influence, the ability to inspire, attract, and lead movements such as: female leaders, managers, intellectuals, artists, businesswomen, talented women in the fields of economics, science, art, culture, sports, foreign affairs, startups, innovation, etc. There is a suitable form to encourage Vietnamese women living abroad to unite, develop, and turn towards the beloved Fatherland. The Association needs to promote decentralization and assignment of tasks in the direction of "Central direction of strategy, province creative application, district accompanying grassroots, commune firmly grasping members, branch understanding women".

Building a team of Union officials, especially leaders with political courage, moral qualities, capacity, prestige, innovative thinking, skills in mobilizing women, exemplary leaders and typical images of Vietnamese women in the new era. Promoting the role of the head of the Union organization when participating in Party committees, elected bodies and other representative institutions. Improving the capacity, skills and courage of Union officials in social supervision and criticism. Promoting the responsibility of the Union at all levels, especially at the grassroots level, innovating and improving the quality of activities of branches and women's organizations at all levels. Timely detecting, training, selecting and introducing qualified female officials and Union officials to participate in Party committees, authorities and organizations, contributing to building a team of female leaders and managers in the political system.

Third, the Association needs to seriously organize propaganda, dissemination, education, raising awareness and responsibility among members and women; arousing the will, aspiration, patriotism, national pride, promoting the fine traditions of Vietnamese women. Mobilizing women to practice the moral qualities of "Confidence, self-respect, loyalty, and responsibility" associated with promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style.

Continue to raise political awareness, sense of law observance, and civic responsibility; foster skills and working methods for cadres, members, and women to effectively carry out social supervision and criticism work. Overcome the manifestations of complacency, pragmatism, moral degradation, and lifestyle... of a segment of women. It is necessary to make each cadre of the Union at all levels and each Vietnamese woman truly become a soldier on the cultural and ideological front, actively and proactively participating in building and protecting the Party, protecting the regime, protecting sovereignty and national and ethnic interests.

Fourth, promote the role of the Women's Union and women of all walks of life in building and nurturing Vietnamese family values ​​with core values: Prosperity, progress, happiness, civilization; build a safe environment for women and children. Implement well the Vietnam Family Development Strategy to 2030. Women's Unions at all levels continue to organize, guide, and support women in implementing policies on marriage and family, health care, maternal and child protection, environmental protection... protecting the good customs, traditions, and values ​​of the country, people, and women of Vietnam. Timely detect, speak up, defend, protect, help, and propose solutions to resolve cases related to women, children, and gender equality.

Fifth, it is recommended that party committees at all levels, authorities, departments, ministries, branches and organizations thoroughly grasp the viewpoints and goals of women's work in the new situation. Organize leadership, direction, guidance as well as develop specific programs and action plans to create a clear change in the quality and effectiveness of women's work in each sector, each level, locality and unit. Complete gender mainstreaming policies according to the provisions of the Law on Gender Equality, creating conditions for women to have the opportunity to access and fully enjoy the social security policies that our Party and State have identified.

Continue to pay attention to supporting the building and strengthening of the organization, innovating and improving the quality and efficiency of the activities of the Women's Union at all levels. Have mechanisms and policies to mobilize all social resources to support and accompany the movements and activities of the Women's Union at all levels; support and help women in difficult circumstances to improve their lives. In particular, continue to assign a number of tasks and ensure resources for the Women's Union to participate in implementing a number of socio-economic development goals, a number of tasks in the 3 national target programs, and projects of the Government in accordance with the capacity and strengths of the Women's Union at each level.

Party and State agencies, the Fatherland Front, unions, social organizations, and mass media agencies need to strengthen propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility for gender and gender equality for officials, party members, and the people. Continue to promote gender equality, considering it a criterion of progress and civilization, and well implement international commitments on women and development that Vietnam participates in, especially the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Building a good society on the foundation of respecting, honoring, caring for and protecting women; civilized and cultured behavior towards women; promoting the role, potential and strengths of women. Focus on promoting, praising and replicating typical and advanced women groups and individuals. Resolutely criticizing and fighting against thoughts and attitudes that look down on women, acts of discrimination, insulting the dignity and harming women and children.

Dear comrades, delegates and guests!

At this Congress, along with discussing and contributing opinions to the Political Report and the Association's Charter, I propose that, with a high sense of responsibility, the Congress democratically discuss, concentrate intelligence, and wisely select and elect the 13th Central Executive Committee of the Association, comrades with sufficient qualities, capacity, prestige, responsibility, and enthusiasm; ensuring harmony and balance, focusing on key areas and fields, and exemplary people with sufficient capacity and conditions to participate and contribute to the Association's work, the women's movement, and gender equality.

We believe that after this Congress, in society, first of all, cadres, members and women, there will be new awareness and new momentum, creating new momentum for the development of the women's movement in our country, ensuring more synchronization, comprehensiveness, practicality, quality and efficiency. The activities of the Vietnam Women's Union will have many innovations, upgrades, and breakthroughs, contributing worthily to the successful implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, for a Vietnam of "rich people, strong country, democracy, equality, civilization", for the strong and prosperous development of the country.

With sincere feelings and deep trust, in the joyful and exciting atmosphere of the new Spring and the occasion of International Women's Day March 8, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, I would like to wish the 13th Congress of Vietnamese Women a great success. I wish the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, delegates, mothers, sisters and all Vietnamese women good health, success and happiness!

Thank you very much!