Besides reviewing all achievements and the challenges relating the implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Conference will pass the General Declaration at Ministerial level including the measures promoting the implementation of gender equality. The Declaration will serve for the Commission on Status of Women (CSW) reviewing the implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at global scale in the 64th working session in March 2020 in New York, USA.

On behalf of Vietnam’s Government, at the Conference, Deputy Minister Le Quan said that during 25 years, Vietnam’s Government has resolved to realize the goals of Beijing’s Platform for Action and the other international commitment on gender equality in the process of building and improving law and policies of the country.

“Vietnam has managed to reduce the discriminated regulation for women and man; especially, the Labour Code 2012 (amendment), which has just been passed by the National Assembly including many progress contents promoting gender equality in labour. Such as, narrowing the gender gap in retirement age of labourers from 05 years to 02 years, supplementing the definition of sexual harassment at work and the regulation of prevention of sexual harassment at work” said Deputy Minister Le Quan.

According to Deputy Minister Le Quan, Vietnam has efforted in the field of gender equality to clearly improve the role and status of Vietnamese women. Especially, the rate of women participating into National Assembly be always at the high rate in the Asia – Pacific region and on the World (reach 27.06%), rate of women participating in labour force is 71.2%. However, there are many challenges in the work of ensuring gender equality in Vietnam and all over the world.  

Deputy Minister Le Quan said that to achieve more improvement on gender equality, it is necessary to ensure the general awareness of economic development parallel with social progress, alleviation reduction and focus on the vulnerable groups, especially, women and children. Moreover, the enhancement of the State management system on gender equality and mainstreaming gender equality in the programs, initiatives at all levels, and fields play an important role. Accordingly, Vietnam will improve the partnership between the Government and relating parties, in which, there are the United Nation’s agencies to maximize the support and result on gender equality and the advancement of women.

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Le Quan had a meeting with Mrs. Anita Bhatia, Vice Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships of United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Mrs. Anita Bhatia impressed at the achievement of Vietnam in the field of gender equality, and express her pleasure to support Vietnam in keep developing the Essential Services for women and children who are victim of violent (ESP), sharing the international experience on prevention and deal with gender based violence, and promoting cooperation on gender equality in 2020 when Vietnam takes on the role of ASEAN Chair.

Deputy Minister Le Quan affirmed that Vietnam will continue focusing on development and implementation the legal regulations on gender equality to promoting the advancement of women and mobilizing their strength.