Vietnam is making progress in its gender equality policies, but efforts are still needed

Despite progress in gender equality policies, Vietnam still has significant gender disparities in leadership, income and healthcare, as well as in economic resources and access to education.

Gender stereotypes also continue to affect decision-making rights and the distribution of tasks within the méaccording to a recent national survey on gender equality published on Tuesday by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS).

A total of 9.094 people from six socio-economic regions of the country took part in the research, which analyzes gender issues in seven key areas: politics, leadership and management; education, training, science and technology; economy, labor and employment; health; family; response to and prevention of gender-based violence; and responses to climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and environmental catastrophes.

The results of the research will serve as scientific evidence to assess the implementation of Vietnam's international commitments to gender equality, and formulate policy recommendations to promote sustainable development.

Speaking at the seminar announcing the survey results on Tuesday March 11, ASSV President Phan Chi Hiêu, said that Vietnam was one of the countries where the gender gap was closing fastest in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam ranked 72ndⁱⁿ the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, moving up 11 places from the previous year.

The country retained this ranking in 2024 with a parity score of 71.5%, above the global and regional average for East Asia and the Pacific.

^Dr. Trân Thi Minh Th Trân Thi Minh Thi, deputy director of ASSV's Institute for Social Science Information and lead author of the study, said that gender equality is not only a question of equity, but also an important driver for the promotion of sustainable development.

According to her, the rapid development of information technologies can facilitate women's access to knowledge, employment and business opportunities, but it can also increase inequalities if they don't have access to information.inequalities if they lack the skills and knowledge to adapt to the changing labor market.

Vietnam needs to adopt policies that support women in accessing technologies and improving their professional qualifications and digital skillsskills, she said, explaining that this would not only help reduce the gender gap, but also maximize women's potential in socio-economic development.

Changing societal perceptions of gender equality also play an important role, she added. Communication and awareness-raising campaigns need to be stepped up to eliminate traditional gender stereotypes that hinder women's development.

Seminar delegates also stressed the importance of supportive policies that strengthen women's presence in leadership and management positions, and improve their access to financing for their businesses.

Reducing the gender gap in education should also be a priority, notably by offering women and girls the opportunity to quality education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Other areas of focus include social protection services, as well as working conditions, job quality and the protection of women workers' rights, particularly in the informal sector.

Source: lecourrier.vn/