Entrepreneurs and policymakers in Viet Nam pledge to strengthen gender-inclusive business for sustainable growth
Date:
[Press release]
Ha Noi – More than 180 business leaders, policymakers, ambassadors, and representatives of international organizations in Viet Nam have gathered to pledge wide-ranging actions for gender-inclusive business.
The “Viet Nam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2020,” held to celebrate Viet Nam Entrepreneurs' Day on October 13 and Viet Nam Women's Day on October 20, highlighted the unique role of private companies in advancing gender equality, a human right and prerequisite for sustainable and prosperous business and economic growth.
Opening the forum, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) emphasized that: “The economy in general and businesses in particular will lack conditions to promote sustainable development without women's active, responsible and creative participation.”
Jesús Laviña, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section, European Union Delegation to Viet Nam said: “I am pleased to attend this forum – first and foremost to send a strong signal that the EU is committed to helping partner countries in promoting gender equality and, hopefully, in turning gender equality into greater prosperity for Viet Nam.”
At the forum, CEOs of 13 companies based in Viet Nam signed and became signatories to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). They pledged to strengthen their efforts to promote equal and active participation of women in business by implementing the WEPs.
“Women account for half of the population. An economy that underutilizes women’s talents are missing out half of the available human resources,” said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Head of UN Women Office in Viet Nam. “Making use of the full potential of women’s economic participation is not only social and corporate responsibilities but also smart economics.”
The event was convened by the EU-funded WeEmpowerAsia programme of UN Women, in cooperation with the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
A panel discussion held at the forum featured representatives from VWEC, UN Women, Embassy of the Netherlands, Standard Chartered Bank, Garment 10 Corporation Joint Stock Company and Hien Le Group, who presented best practices and emphasized on advancing gender equality as an important condition for sustainable economic development.
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Media Contacts:
- Hoang Bich Thao
Communication Officer
UN Women Viet Nam
Email: [ Click to reveal ]
- Mai Dieu Huyen
Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council
Email: [ Click to reveal ]
About WeEmpowerAsia
WeEmpowerAsia, a programme funded by and in partnership with the European Union seeks to increase the number of women who lead and participate in business in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. A key component of the programme involves mobilizing private sector companies to become gender-responsive by committing to and implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). For more, visit http://weempowerasia.org.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
About the European Union
The European Union is made up of 27 member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms.
About Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
The Women’s Empowerment Principles is a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact. The Principles outline seven steps for business on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. The Principles highlight that empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors and throughout all levels of economic activity is essential to build strong economies; establish more stable and just societies; achieve internationally agreed goals for development, sustainability, and human rights; improve quality of life for women, men, families and communities; and propel business’ operations and goals.