APPF-29: Parliaments should step up actions to ensure gender equality
Parliaments should take more actions with a focus on policies and strategies on recovery, thus meeting gender equality requirements, a Vietnamese representative said at the online Meeting of Women Parliamentarians within the 29th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-29), hosted by the Republic of Korea (RoK) on December 13.
Permanent member of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Ha (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Parliaments should takemore actions with a focus on policies and strategies on recovery, thus meetinggender equality requirements, a Vietnamese representative said at the online Meetingof Women Parliamentarians within the 29th Annual Meeting of the Asia-PacificParliamentary Forum (APPF-29), hosted by the Republic of Korea (RoK) onDecember 13.
Addressing the meeting, permanent member of theVietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Hasuggested legislatures give more resources to tackling gender equality-relatedissues, and increase the number of female parliamentarians.
She pointed out great challenges to gender equalitydue to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, stressing thatit is time for parliaments to take bold actions to reach gender equality andwomen’s empowerment during the post-pandemic recovery.
The official introduced Vietnam’s legal framework andnational strategy on gender equality through different periods of time, whichare set to reform national action programmes for the progress of Vietnamesewomen.
Vietnam has also joined relevant internationalcommitments, including the Convention is monitored by the Committee on theElimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the BeijingDeclaration and Platform for Action, she said.
Delegates at the meeting agreed on the need to step upactions of parliaments to achieve gender equality, gender sensitivity andgender responsive approach in dealing with pandemic consequences.
The Vietnamese NA co-sponsored two draft resolutions,comprising one achieving gender equality through increasing women’sparticipation and representation, and another on promoting gender-basedCOVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery./.
A programme to implement the National Strategy on Gender Equality in the 2021–2030 period and the Vietnam Population Strategy by 2030 was launched by the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labour on December 6.
An international workshop on the role of national action programmes in promoting the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda was jointly held in Hanoi on December 7 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations (UN) Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
The rate of women in the Vietnamese workforce has reached over 70 percent, a high level in the world, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
Lawmakers are set to vote on revisions and amendments to a broad spectrum of legal frameworks and impactful resolutions during the final week of the 15th NA's 9th session.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Permanent member of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Le Thu Ha (Photo: VNA) 
