On Nov. 12, The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) together with UN agencies in Vietnam launched the national action month for gender quality and gender-based violence prevention and response, which takes place from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15.

With its theme "Ensuring social security, empowering and creating opportunities for women and girls to achieve gender equality, and eliminating violence against women and girls", the action month once again affirms Vietnam's priorities and commitments in promoting practical progress in the matter.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of MoLISA Nguyen Thi Ha stressed that, in order to address gender inequality in Vietnam, in addition to policies and programs to ensure social security, long-term communications efforts should be carried out more regularly and effectively to change gender bias, which is quite common in all aspects of social life.

Deputy Minister of MoLISA Nguyen Thi Ha spoke at the launching event. Photo: UN Women

In the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in inequality, with women and girls bearing more disadvantages. That is why the group, particularly pregnant women and children orphaned due to the pandemic, has been prioritized with higher aid in Vietnam’s support policies targeting people impacted by COVID-19.

It will now take the world 136 years instead of 100 years to close the gender gap caused by COVID-19, estimated by the World Economic Forum's 2021 Gender Gap Report.

According to UNWOMEN, it has been estimated that 11 million girls may not return to school because of COVID-19, thereby increasing their risk of child marriage. The economic fallout is expected to push 47 million more women and girls into extreme poverty in 2021, reversing decades of progress and perpetuating structural inequalities that reinforce violence against women and girls.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) together with UN agencies in Vietnam co-organized the national action month for gender quality and gender-based violence prevention and response. Photo: UN Women

“There would be no gender equality without the participation of men in domestic work and without an end to violence against women and girls,” the deputy minister said.

Vietnam has always made great efforts in implementing measures to ensure social security, promote gender equality and prevent and respond to gender-based violence, especially violence against women and girls. The 2021 National Action Month has particularly gained various beneficial results after only two weeks since the launching event.

For gender equality, improving communication is identified as the most important task in order to raise awareness, contribute to the eradication of prejudices, towards substantive gender equality.

The implementation of Action Month for Gender Equality and the prevention and response to gender-based violence since 2016 has contributed to narrowing the gender gap in most fields. Hence, females partook in the 15th National Assembly made up 30.26%, 3.46% higher than that of the 14th. This is also the highest portion since the 5th National Assembly.

Many ministries and branches have first-timer female leaders. The Gender Development Index in Vietnam is among the highest in the world, ranked at 65th out of 162 countries. In particular, the promulgation of the Communication Program on Gender Equality until 2030 shows the Government's special attention to communication on gender equality.

Kidong Park, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam also attended the launching event. Photo:

In the support policies for people and businesses facing difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, women and children have been prioritized for special support, especially pregnant women, women infected with COVID-19, orphaned children whose parents were Covid-19 patients. Supporting policies has contributed to helping women and children to continue with their lives, ease social pressure and risk of violence and abuse.

The National Action Month will continue with many activities until Dec. 15, held in person and online. across the country with different sizes attracting the participation of millions of people across the country.

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