Viet Nam Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality at Beijing+30 Review Conference

Author: Hoang Thao

Tran Thi Hien, 43 in Ca Mau province, Viet Nam, facing drought and saltwater intrusion, installs a water-pumping system for her crops on 8th October 2024. Photo: UN Women/Nguyen Duc Hieu

Bangkok, Thailand — Viet Nam has achieved remarkable milestones in promoting gender equality, but significant challenges remain. These include persistent gender stereotypes, gaps in gender-disaggregated data, a rapidly aging population, and the escalating impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and epidemics, which disproportionately affect women and children, said Vice Minister.

Vice Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs, Nguyen Thi Ha spoke during the opening of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review. The three-day event in Bangkok, jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and UN Women, has brought together over 1,200 delegates from governments, civil society, youth groups, the private sector, and academia to assess progress and set priority actions for the region.

"Viet Nam believes that economic development must go along with social justice and progress, poverty reduction and care for vulnerable groups, especially women and children," she said. " We also need to strengthen further the state management of gender equality and mainstream gender equality in programmes and initiatives at all levels and fields."

She added: "With the desire to maintain and promote achievements in gender equality, Viet Nam is determined to implement the solutions stated in the National Review of the 30-year implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, aiming for successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, and leaving no one behind in the development process. We will continue to strengthen the partnership between the Government and relevant stakeholders, including the United Nations agencies, to maximize their support and outcomes of gender equality and women's advancement."

Viet Nam has made significant progress in gender equality, including achieving a high representation of women in the National Assembly (30.26 per cent), a substantial female labor force participation rate (62.4 per cent) and 28.2 per cent of businesses owned by women. Additional achievements include increased school enrollment for girls, and improved access to healthcare for ethnic minorities. According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024, Viet Nam ranks 72nd out of 146 countries in the gender equality index.

UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous urged countries at the conference to seize this moment to advance gender equality. "The Beijing+30 Review offers us a unique opportunity to galvanize political will and public engagement,” she said.

“Let us recommit to the Beijing Platform for Action principles and take bold steps to ensure women and girls are at the center of economic, social, and political agendas. Together, we must address current challenges while paving the way for future generations to thrive."

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA) was adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing, China. This landmark international commitment aims to advance gender equality and empower women globally. Nex year will be the BDPA’s 30th anniversary. Viet Nam is among many countries that have completed its national review report.