Lifestyle

“Women’s Empowerment: Unlocking a Brighter Future”

Note from the Editor:

9 July, 2024

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This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the power of women’s empowerment and the impact it has on society as a whole. The following stories from Vietnam are a testament to that.

Le Thi Ha Giang, a young and ambitious entrepreneur, is taking her business to the next level by integrating digital skills. As a trainee of the Empower Her Tech Program by the United Nations Development Program, she acquired website building and digital design skills, including the use of generative AI. These new skills will undoubtedly propel her business forward in the digital age.

Mi, a survivor of human trafficking, has transformed her life with the support of the International Organization on Migration and the UK government, in collaboration with reintegration partners from the Vietnamese labor ministry. She is now the primary breadwinner for her family, thanks to the provision of female goats, which offer a sustainable source of food and additional income. This assistance has empowered Mi and facilitated her successful reintegration into society.

These stories highlight the resilience and determination of women when given the opportunity. They are a testament to the impact of empowering women and providing them with the tools and support they need to thrive.

Vietnam has made significant strides in women’s empowerment, with legislation such as the Gender Equality Law and special quotas for women in the National Assembly. These legal frameworks have created an environment conducive to driving investments in women’s empowerment. As a result, the country has climbed 11 places on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index, with an impressive over-70% female workforce participation rate and a 30.26% women’s representation in parliament, surpassing the global average.

However, challenges remain, particularly for ethnic minority and disabled women, who face barriers to equal opportunities in education, employment, and leadership roles. Female representation in Party bodies and People’s Councils is disproportionately low for ethnic minorities, with only 6% and 7.3% respectively, compared to their male counterparts at over 35%. More work is needed at the commune level, where women’s representation stands at just 22%.

Caroline Nyamayemombe, Representative of UN Women in Vietnam, advocates for increasing women’s leadership and participation in key institutions.

Reflecting on the progress made over the years since the Beijing Declaration and the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, we can accelerate women’s advancement by focusing on a few key areas.

First, increasing women’s leadership across public and private institutions has a positive impact on performance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 80% of the top-performing businesses on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange were led by women. Yet, only about a quarter of business owners and CEOs in Vietnam are women. Elevating women’s leadership and participation in key institutions is crucial to combating bias and building public trust. The goal is to have 70% of state management agencies with female leaders by 2030.

Second, strengthening quality education and ensuring equal access to leadership training and funded programs, especially in STEM fields, is vital for a successful digital transformation. In Vietnam, 36.5% of tertiary education graduates in STEM are female, and Polytechnic University has a male-dominated student body. With 75% of jobs expected to be STEM-related by 2050, addressing gender inequality in STEM education becomes crucial to preventing imbalances exacerbated by digital transformation.

Third, addressing the gender pay gap is essential, as women are still paid less than men globally. Women earn only 77% of what men earn, and gender-responsive social protection systems are needed to ensure equitable access and support for women and girls in poverty. These systems can help address income disparities and promote access to decent work, ultimately reducing gender-based violence.

Lastly, innovative financing solutions can play a pivotal role in lifting women and girls out of poverty. Vietnam’s National Target Program on New Rural Development is a prime example, as it allocates public resources to respond to the needs of women and girls, providing housing support to 230,000 poor households in rural areas by 2025. Similar initiatives can unlock greater economic prosperity for the country.

As the United Nations Secretary-General emphasizes, investing in women’s inclusion and leadership in various sectors is imperative. This year’s theme, ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ underscores the importance of empowering women to drive societal progress. The stories of Mi and Le Thi Ha Giang inspire us and remind us that a brighter future is within reach.