Vietnam Takes Part in Strengthening International Collaboration for Gender Equality

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van (white suit), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, attends a dialogue marking the International Day of Women in Multilateralism on January 25.

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van has reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of raising women’s position and promoting gender equality in all aspects while attending recent events marking the International Day of Women in Multilateralism, VNA reported Friday.

The events, comprising a global dialogue on countering online gendered disinformation and an intergenerational dialogue, were held by UNESCO in Paris on January 25.

The event was attended by the Director General of UNESCO, the President of the Executive Council of UNESCO, the special rapporteurs and representatives of the United Nations, and a large number of Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of neighboring countries. UNESCO, policymakers, researchers, experts, and representatives of social networks Twitter, and Facebook.

The discussions pointed out the consequences of current global issues that have pushed back the achievements in narrowing the gender gap in recent years, posing many challenges for women, especially increasing the digital divide, gender gaps in leadership in both the public and private sectors, gender-based violence and lack of resources for implementing women’s empowerment programs.

The parties agreed that there should be a holistic approach, closely linking gender equality, social progress, and growth for the sake of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development; affirming that women and girls should be placed in a “central position” in socio-economic development solutions, efforts to promote effective, inclusive and cohesive multilateralism; commitment and efforts to promote gender equality through strengthening international cooperation, exchanging experiences, proposing measures and attracting necessary resources to enhance the role and contribution of women.

At the same time, affirming the need to raise awareness and take specific actions to implement commitments, and promote the role and contribution of women in multilateralism, especially to increase the presence of women in leadership positions to shape and implement multilateral agendas.

UNESCO holds a global dialogue at its Paris headquarters on International Day, to advance effective responses to online gendered disinformation. Source: UNESCO

Facing the rapid development of social platforms in the digital era, the delegates also discussed, identified challenges and proposed solutions, which are expected to be submitted to a UNESCO Conference on shaping digital platform regulation that will be held in February, bringing together representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, the tech community, and other stakeholders. In order to build a regulatory framework for digital platforms in line with gender requirements, so that information is really useful and safe products for all women, avoiding malicious, anti-gender, hate-inciting information, while ensuring freedom of expression.

As a key speaker representing the Asia-Pacific region, Ambassador Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, underlined the country’s consistent policy of highly bringing into play women’s roles and great potential in national development and safeguarding, raising women’s position, and promoting gender equality in all fields, from politics, economy, and culture to society.

Women’s role and contributions have also continually been upheld during the ASEAN Community building process, she noted.

Van went on to say that the role of Vietnamese women has been increasingly affirmed in terms of politics and diplomacy. Many have been holding leadership positions in the Party and State, thus substantially contributing to strong improvements in the country. In particular, Vietnam has posted a rate of women in UN peacekeeping operations higher than the UN’s targeted figure, and many of them have shown excellent performance, helping enhance mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation among peoples of different countries.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022, Vietnam scored 0.705 on a scale of 1 to rank 83rd among the 146 countries, climbing four places from 2021.

The diplomat also shared Vietnam’s initiatives and efforts to boost cooperation in gender equality promotion and women empowerment as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, and the Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

Recommendations will inform UNESCO’s ongoing work to establish principles for the regulation of digital platforms, so that information is a “public good” while preserving freedom of expression. They will also contribute to a UNESCO Conference on shaping digital platform regulation that will be held in February.

At the events, participants highly valued Vietnam’s active contributions and growing stature in the international arena, describing the country as a typical demonstration of the promotion of women’s role and engagement in the agendas on women, peace, and security.

Gender equality is one of the two global priorities of UNESCO. On 23 November 2021, UNESCO’s General Conference adopted Resolution 41 C/57 declaring 25th January as the International Day of Women in Multilateralism. The purpose of this Day is to recognize the essential role played by women in the promotion of human rights, peace, and sustainable development within the multilateral system.

The International Day of Women in Multilateralism advocates for increased representation of women in key decision-making positions that shape and implement multilateral agendas and for ensuring that multilateralism works for women and girls through gender transformative actions and agreements.

It also provides a global platform for intergenerational dialogue between women leaders within the multilateral system and a new generation of women as future leaders in global governance.