The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) have granted $1.6 million for a gender equality project in Vietnam. The two organizations and Vietnam’s National Assembly’s Social Affairs Committee signed a deal in Hanoi on July 30 to conduct the project on improving capacity of lawmakers in policies relating to population, reproductive health and gender equality. The four-year project until 2016 is aimed to enrich knowledge for National Assembly’s deputies from Hai Duong, Kon Tum and Ben Tre provinces. In Vietnam, gender equality remains a matter of concerns hindering the country’s development over inequality judgment toward female and male chauvinism, said Bruce Campbell, Vietnam Resident Coordinator of UNFPA. Vietnam needs more efforts to create equality for women through proper policies which must be implemented at provincial level, the official said. Despite the country’s achievements in creating equal education and social services, particularly healthcare through the falling death-toll of mothers and babies, the rate of women benefiting social security remains less than male beneficiaries. Vietnam has touted foreign partners in saying that its policies ensure equality for both sexes but state agencies and firms somewhat show unfair judgment to female employees. Vietnam boasted to have about 25% of female congresswomen in the National Assembly, the country’s highest legislative body, where most of important positions and decisions are not available for them. (Ha Noi Moi – New Hanoi Aug 1 p7)
