Enforcement of gender equality law should be enhanced: experts
After 10 years of implementing the Law on Gender Equality from 2007 to 2019, several development indicators have improved, experts said in a meeting to review the law held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Hanoi on Thursday.
In 2006, Vietnam promulgated the Law on Gender Equality, requiring Government agencies and People’s Committees at all levels to perform State management responsibilities in gender equality.
“Since the law was issued and took effect, the system of policies and laws on gender equality has been continuously supplemented and completed, contributing to forming a solid legal corridor on gender equality,” MoLISA deputy minister Nguyen Thi Ha told the meeting.
“After 10 years of implementing the law, several proud achievements in the issue were highly appreciated and recognised by the international community,” said Ha.
For example, the percentage of female deputies of the current National Assembly reached 26.8 per cent, higher than the average rate of 19 per cent in Asian countries and 25 per cent globally.
The ratio of male and female students at all educational levels is equal, while the gender structure of the labour force is relatively balanced, with 52.7 per cent of the workforce male and 47.3 per cent female.
The maternal death rate has decreased from 69 cases per 100,000 live births in 2009 to 46 cases per 100,000 live births in 2019.
Meanwhile, Naomi Kitahara, the UNFPA's representative in Vietnam, said that in the 10 years of implementing the Law on Gender Equality, Vietnam has become one of the nations in Asia-Pacific recording progress on gender equality.
"We have seen remarkable achievements in promoting women's rights and leadership, especially in the health and education sectors through strengthening the legal and institutional framework," said Kitahara.
Remaining difficulties
Despite the progress, gender equality in Vietnam has been facing difficulties and challenges.
Both men and women suffer the effects of gender inequality, but women and girls are still more vulnerable groups.
Though they account for nearly half of the national workforce, due to a lack of skills and training, the quality of work of female workers remains unstable and unsustainable.
The majority of the labour force work in fields that require a low level of expertise or jobs with low sustainability and stability, while the average monthly income of female employees is about 80 per cent of male workers.
The five-year difference in retirement age shortens the time to participate in training, which limits opportunities for women to be promoted to leadership positions.
Meanwhile, there are big gaps in incomes and opportunities to approach basic services and cultural events among women in different occupation and regions, especially of ethnic minority women, women with disabilities, and poor women.
