Gender roles and differences must be taken into account in designingpolicies and programmes on social welfare, said Shoko Ishikawa, UN WomenCountry Representative in Vietnam in Hanoi on April 21.

She made the remark at a workshop promoting social protection forwomen and girls in Vietnam held by the United Nations Entity for GenderEquality and Achievement of Women (UN Women) in association with theInstitute of Labour Sciences and Social Affairs (ILSSA) under theMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

According to the UN Women official, Vietnam has made significantprogress in reducing gender inequality, yet gender bias and challengesto achieving gender equality still remain, limiting women’s access tothe labour market.

ILSSA Director Nguyen ThiLan Huong affirmed that effective social protection policies areessential in ensuring social stability, fostering economic growth andbuilding a better society.

Employment andsocial protection policies have been developed in Vietnam for decades,benefiting an increasing number of people including women and girls, asmanifested in the issuance of two State Resolutions on social protectionin 2012, Huong added.

During the workshop,local and foreign experts in the field exchanged information andexperience in implementing programmes on social protection for women andgirls.

Delegate proposals together withfindings of the national report on “Social protection for women andgirls in Vietnam” conducted by the ILSSA and UN Women in 2014 will offerguidance for the government in improving its policies on socialprotection concerning gender issues.-VNA