VOV.VN - Vietnam is ready to cooperate closely with other countries and international organizations to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, said Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Xuan said women today are an indispensable force in all processes of peace, security, social progress and sustainable development.
"It is necessary to help women bring into full play their potential to participate in political and socio-economic activities and further promote women’s engagement in decision-making mechanisms so as to effectively support the goal of hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and ensure decent livelihoods through startup and innovation," she stated.
The Vice President also highlighted the empowerment of women and girls in science - technology and digital transformation, associated with preventing and combating discrimination and violence in cyberspace, while strengthening women’s role in building an international environment of peace, stability, inclusive and sustainable development, and handling non-traditional security challenges, especially climate change response.
The head of the Vietnamese delegation suggested that countries and the United Nations work together to promote partnerships for sustainable development; support financial resources; give policymaking advice to developing countries; strengthen direct cooperation between organizations, businesses, experts and female role models; and increase the sharing of the effectiveness of good models.
“In the current context of many difficulties and challenges, the great potential of women needs to be strongly promoted and realized with adequate commitments and resources. In that process, Vietnam is ready to cooperate closely with other countries and international organizations to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, thereby contributing to building a world of peace, cooperation and sustainable development,” she stressed.
Xuan reviewed some of Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in gender equality, noting that the women-to-men ratio in the National Assembly has increased to 30.3%; 70% of women are engaging in the labour market, and nearly 30% of businesses have female leaders. In January 2024, Vietnam issued the National Action Programme on Women, Peace and Security, making a practical contribution to international efforts to promote this issue in the region and the rest of the world.
Vietnam’s proposals were highly appreciated by representatives of many countries in their subsequent speeches at the session.