(VNF) - On September 18^th, a communication program and a conference on gender equality were jointly held by the United Nations Education, Science, Culture Organization (UNESCO) Vietnam Office, the Ministry of Education and Training, Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV), Vietnam Institute of Education Sciences, Women’s Museum, and Hanoi-based Thuc Nghiem Junior High School.

This is one of highlights of a project “Initiative on Gender Equity and Girl Education in Vietnam: empowering girls and women for a more equal society”.

Student speaks at the conference on gender equality at Thuc Nghiem Junior High School in Hanoi. (Photo: VOV)

With the aim to equip both parents and school students with knowledge in the field, the event offered an opportunity for students to voice their opinions and aspirations to the parents about their concerned issues in terms of equal treatment, and the equality between daughters and sons in the family, and for the parents to better understand their children and educate them.

Earlier, a training course to raise awareness of gender equality and relevant communication skills among school students was held in Hanoi on September 10^th.

During the course, 50 students from the Thuc Nghiem Junior High School in Hanoi were equipped with basic skills on drafting messages on such themes as education for girls and women, education on gender and sex, school bullying, and domestic violence.

The Vietnam's Government has pledged its commitment to gender equality in international conventions, and national legislation and development strategies. The Law on Gender Equality (2006), the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control (2007), the National Strategy on Gender Equality (2011-2020) and the National Programme on Gender Equality (2011-2015) outline the duties of different sectors, including the education sector, for promoting gender equality and the advancement of women.

In line with these national priorities and UNESCO’s Global Priority Gender Equality, UNESCO Vietnam is supporting the Ministry of Education and Training to conduct activities with the aim of mainstreaming gender equality in the Vietnamese education system./.

Minh Phuong