According to VNA, the founding congress of the Vietnamese Women Federation (VWF) in Europe was attended by nearly 400 women representing Vietnamese women’s associations in nearly 20 European countries. The congress took place in Prague, the Czech Republic on September 9.
Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Women Federation in Europe and guests. Photo: Tuan Hoang |
During the congress, the participants discussed the federation’s operation orientations for the next five years. They also focused on measures to support the establishment of organizations for Vietnamese women in countries where such organizations do not exist. Additionally, they discussed how to assist member organizations in developing their own operational plans. The attendees also shared ideas on supporting poor women and orphans in both Vietnam and European countries.
A 43-member standing board of the federation was elected during the congress. Nguyen Viet Trieu, the president of the Vietnamese Women’s Association in Poland, was elected as the President of the VWF in Europe. The federation will also become a member of the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe.
The Vietnamese Women’s Association in the Netherlands was established in February 2023 and had 10 delegates attending the congress. Trinh Thi Thu Van, a delegate of the Vietnamese Women Association in Poland, stated that the establishment of the VWF in Europe will provide motivation and guidance for the Vietnamese women’s movement in the Netherlands. Van believes it will contribute to the development of community activities and make them stronger. She also mentioned that the VWF in Europe will help unite member associations and support their future development.
The idea of establishing the Vietnamese Women’s Associations in Europe was officially introduced at the 2nd Congress in 2022 of the Vietnamese Women’s Associations in Europe. With the active participation of women’s associations in European countries, as well as the attention and support of various agencies and departments, the Vietnamese Associations in Europe, and the Vietnamese representative agencies, the first congress of the VWF in Europe was successfully held.
As a result, a large-scale forum for Vietnamese women in Europe has been established, which is expected to promote the traditional qualities of Vietnamese women and provide more opportunities for women to contribute to community activities and the integration and development of the Vietnamese community abroad. During the congress, the VWF in Europe also announced the formation of a fund for poor women and orphans and launched fundraising activities for the fund.
Irish contributor to Vietnam’s ethnic minority communities
Dr Colman Ross from Ireland has positively contributed to the development of Viet Nam for nearly 20 years with a major focus on the marginalised and remote Ethnic Minority communities that are being left behind.