Delegates attending the "Supporting woman in digital transformation amid the Covid-19 pandemic towards sustainable development" seminar." (Photo: UNDP)

Vietnam Women’s Union cooperated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host the "Supporting woman in digital transformation amid the Covid-19 pandemic towards sustainable development" seminar on Oct. 18 to celebrate the 91st anniversary of the union's establishment and the Vietnamese Women's Day (Oct. 20).

Vietnam Women’s Union president Ha Thi Nga said since digital transformation had become an inevitable trend, women needed support to improve their capacity and access opportunities to substantively participate and make effective contributions to the revolutionary change.

With its role as the representative for the legitimate rights and interests of all classes of Vietnamese women, the Vietnam Women’s Union has participated in the country's process of international integration and digital transformation towards sustainable development. It has implemented the general international integration policy and the "National digital transformation program to 2025, orientation to 2030." The union issued a resolution to support women's international integration to 2030 with specific targets and solutions in January 2021.

Vietnam Women’s Union has also implemented activities to support women in digital transformation and international integration in recent years, such as increasing the use of online platforms in communication and training for women, holding training sessions on information technology skills in production and business, helping women connect with e-commerce platforms to sell products.

Speakers shared their experiences and initiatives during a panel talk at the seminar. (Photo: UNDP)

"Supporting women for international integration and digital transformation will be one of the important policies for the 13th National Women's Congress, scheduled to take place in March 2022, to study and support," said the president of the Vietnam Women's Union Ha Thi Nga

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that digital transformation provided women with more opportunities to access information and knowledge, improve their capacity and professional qualifications, and offer chances to develop their careers.

At the same time, the trend poses challenges, especially for women, namely the change in the traditional way of working, the increasing pressure on labor mobility, the risk of unemployment, social inequality, and gender gap. Those are huge threats for women if they are not equipped with updated knowledge, new skills, new ways of working.

"In the coming time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Women's Union and localities to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality and women empowerment, supporting women in the country's deeper and more comprehensive international integration process," said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu.

Delegates at the event shared information, initiatives, and experiences regarding the issue. They proposed specific and practical solutions to improve women's capacity, especially in the post-pandemic context when the country is thriving to proactively and safely coexist with coronavirus. They also discussed ideas for cooperation between the Vietnam Women's Union and partners to support women in digital transformation in the context of global integration and the "new normal," towards green and sustainable development.

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