Facts show that today’s generation of Vietnamese women are provided with favorable conditions to participate in all socio-political, economic and cultural activities while they have an equal voice as men in their families.
Progress in gender equality
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 reads: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” This means, whether you are a male or female, you are equal to all others.
Following this spirit, the State of Vietnam always attaches importance to the development of policies and programs to promote gender equality and ensuring feminism. Article 26 of the 2013 Constitution stipulates that "the discrimination of gender is strictly prohibited”, which replaces the provision that "all acts of discrimination against women and women's dignity are prohibited”, prescribed in the 1992 Constitution. This reflects changes in the mindset and approach concerning gender equality (emphasizing on discrimination against only one sex, namely women) to a new viewpoint that is equal and conducive to the reality and common sense of the international community.
In recent years, Vietnam has developed and issued legal documents reflecting the principles of gender equality, non-discrimination, and prevention of violence against women, such as the Law on Gender Equality in 2006, the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention in 2007, the Law on Prevention of Human Trafficking in 2011, the amended Labor Code in 2012; the National Action Program on Combating Human Trafficking Crimes for 2011-2015 in order to protect and assist the victims of human trafficking (mostly women and children) to reintegrate into the community; the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2011-2020 and the National Program on Gender Equality for 2011-2015 with the aim to raise awareness, narrow the gender gap and improve the status of women in all areas of social life.
At the international level, the Government of Vietnam has implemented its obligations as a member of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in a serious manner. On 10th July 2015, Vietnam presented its 7th and 8th national reports on the implementation of CEDAW in Vietnam in the 2004-2010 period, and updated information for the 2010-2014 period. Vietnam is also a member and has strictly implemented the provisions of the Convention on Organized Transnational Crimes; the Protocol on the Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children; ILO Convention No.29 on Forced Labor Elimination and many other ILO conventions on working conditions and combating gender discrimination in labor, among others.
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Delegates at an awarding ceremony to honor outstanding businesswomen in 2017 |
Agencies and organizations involved in advisory and promoting the advancement of women in Vietnam include the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, the National Commission for the Advancement of Women and the Vietnam Women's Union. This system is set up at all levels throughout the country (ward/commune, county/district, province/city and central-level agencies). The role and status of women in Vietnam in all aspects of the socio-economic and political life have been enhanced. The percentage of woman Deputies in the 13th National Assembly for the 2011 – 2016 tenure was 24.2%, making Vietnam one of the countries with high percentage of woman representation in the region (ranked second in ASEAN) and the world (ranked 43/143 countries). Vietnamese women assume many key leadership positions, such as the President and Vice President of the National Assembly, the Vice State President, Ministers; and Vice Ministers in 15 out of 30 Ministries and Government agencies.
In 2015, female labor force accounted for 48.3% of total labor force. 24.8% of the enterprises are owned by women and 48% are led by female managers. To facilitate women's access to employment opportunities, the Government has approved and implemented the Project: "Support for women in vocational training and employment creation for the 2011-2015 period". Basically, in recent years, Vietnam has achieved gender equality in secondary and higher education. There is almost no gender gap in accession to education at all levels. In certain areas, the number of women holding higher education degrees is higher than that of men. Literacy rate among women is 96%; the percentage of women in upper secondary and tertiary education is 48.6% and 48.3% respectively. Women account for 19% of PhD Degree and 38% of Master Degree holders. According to the mid-term population and housing census (1st April, 2014), the average life expectancy of women is 76 while that of men is 70.6. Recently, the amended Labor Code stipulates that maternity leave for women increases from 04 months to 06 months to better protect the health of mothers and infants.
However, the empowerment of women still faces certain difficulties. The labor intensity, working time, working forms of female workers in the informal sector are alarming issues. The percentage of ethnic minority women holding leadership positions still remains low, the poverty rate of ethnic minority women remains high; women migrants face the risk of abuse and labor exploitation at workplace, especially in the informal sector; domestic violence against women and "male chauvinism” still exist in society.
Implementing the policy on ensuring gender equality, the State of Vietnam is against all forms of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The Civil Code (Amended) recently adopted by the National Assembly on 24th November 2015 for the first time regulates that "Individuals shall have the rights to the re-determination of their gender" (Article 36) and "Gender transformation of a person shall comply with provisions of law. Individuals have their gender re-determined shall have the rights and obligations to register changes in their civil status under the provisions of the law on civil status, and have suitable personal rights in line with the transformed gender" (Article 37).
Alongside actively developing its legal framework to ensure the rights of the Vietnamese women in the society, Vietnam has also adopted international conventions on gender equality. The country joined the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and always seriously implements the commitments and obligations of the international convention.
Vietnam’s joining CEDAW and other law-binding international convention on gender equality has displayed its high resolve to honor, promote and ensure gender equality and rights of women in the country under the international standard. The country reports on the implementation of CEDAW in Vietnam have all recognized the country’s achievements in protecting and ensuring gender equality and women’s rights.
Success stories of Vietnamese women
Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government in protecting and ensuring gender equality and women’s rights, Vietnamese women have been playing an increasingly important role in the country’s socio-economic development as well as other aspects of life.
In the past, Vietnam had the first-ever female Foreign Minister and later Deputy-State President Nguyen Thi Binh, who was described by international press and media as a smart and firm Vietnamese woman at the Paris peace talks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Another Vietnamese woman that was internationally renowned and respected for her grace, delicacy and intelligence is retired female diplomat Ton Nu Thi Ninh. In wartime, General Nguyen Thi Dinh emerged as a brave female warrior, who terrified the enemy.
Today, many Vietnamese women are successful in various fields. They can hold important positions in social and political organizations or leaders of big companies. The National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Deputy-State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh are good examples of women holding high positions in the country’s political system. There are also a number of other women who are leaders of ministerial-level agencies or provincial-level authorities.
Meanwhile, CEO of the low-cost airlines of Vietjet Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao with her big success in business was selected as one of the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes in 2017. Ms. Mai Kieu Lien, General Director of Vinamilk, and President of TH True Milk Thai Huong are both on the list of Asia’s 50 most powerful women.
In terms of scientific research, Dr. Ha Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Genetics is universally famous for her research achievements in agriculture.
In sports, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien snatched eight golds at the recent Sea Games and many medals at international swimming competitions.
Even in the military, the sector requiring muscles, women also have many outstanding representatives. Recently, Major Do Thi Hang Nga at the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center has been posted to South Sudan to work as a staff officer at the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the country.
There are still a large number of Vietnamese women who have made many successes in various fields. They are lively and powerful proofs of the practice of gender equality in Vietnam.
Translated by Thu Nguyen