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22 September 2021
Enhancing the quality assurance quality control programme of residue testing laboratories
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22 September 2021
Nâng cao chương trình kiểm soát đảm bảo chất lượng của các phòng kiểm nghiệm dư lượng
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01 September 2021
UNODC expands work with law enforcement academies in Southeast Asia to mitigate long-term impacts of COVID-19
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Viet Nam
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth's environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Viet Nam.
Story
14 December 2020
Sex workers must not be left behind
Sex workers are exposed to gender-based violence easily as a consequence of social stigma and illegal status of sex work. “Once, a client kept me in a room for 2 hours forcefully. He beat me up.” memorized by An (not her real name), a street-based sex worker in Viet Nam.
“I cannot report to the police because sex work is illegal.” Spending all her time making a living, she did not have any information where she could turn to for getting support. Her family didn’t know her occupation. So, she kept the traumatizing experience to herself only.
An is the breadwinner supporting the livelihood of her mother and a 5-year-old son. COVID-19 has hit the poorest and the most vulnerable the hardest. During the social distancing policy, only three regular clients. She begged her clients to pay an extra 50,000 VND on the 100,000 VND fee each time. Yet, the house rent and utilities still cost her 1.2 million VND monthly. Her meager earnings can hardly support their living expenses and her son’s school fee.
Fortunately, her son’s school principal and their landlord were aware of their hardship. They allow An to pay back the fees when her financial condition improves. Up till now, An is still struggling to earn a sufficient income to support her family.
Thuy (not her real name) faces a similar situation in the other province in the Mekong Delta. Due to the financial difficulties of her family, Thuy dropped out of her junior high school to work. She is now a single mother of a three-year-old and a six-year-old. She works as a sex worker and part-time housemaid. The clients at sex work pay her 150,000 VND each time, but Thuy needs to pay for the room and condoms. Taking care of her children, she cannot spare much time working and earning money.
In early 2019, Thuy encountered an offer. “The people promised me to get a well-paid job in China,” said Thuy. After her neighbor agreed to take care of her children, she followed those people to China, wishing for better incomes. She revealed, “In China, I was kept in a house and forced to sell sex.” Thuy was trafficked to China for six months.
Thuy was rescued thanks to a joint effort of public security forces and returned to Viet Nam in December 2019. Life in her hometown became even more challenging. Thuy bitterly shared, “I become notorious because people in my community spread rumors behind me. Most people were not willing to get close to me.”
Shortly, the COVID-19 health crisis and destructive typhoon further halted her sources of income. “Struggling to feed my two children, I started asking for rice everywhere, sometimes in the pagodas, sometimes at the tea stalls along the pavement.” said Thuy, who is looking pale and drawn. “I have even thought of committing suicide. Life is too harsh to me.”
The social and economic fallout from the pandemic disproportionately affected the livelihood of sex workers. The risk of violence against them has raised. Due to stigma, discrimination, and illegal status of sex work, it’s usually very difficult for sex workers to access social protection in case of violence.
Everyone, including sex workers, is entitled to work decently with dignity and safety. Collective efforts are needed to protect sex workers from violence. The United Nations, joining other organizations* supporting the rights of sex workers, calls for zero discrimination against for sex workers and equal access to health care and social support for every people.
*The sex workers featured in this story have been reached by the Viet Nam Network of Self-help Groups of Sex Workers (VNSW) and received joint support from UNAIDS and VNSW for mitigation of the impacts of COVID-19
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Press Release
12 May 2020
Việt Nam’s COVID-19 crisis response can increase opportunities for the country to emerge as a leader at regional and global levels
In addition to carrying out its significant and important responsibilities as a Non-Permanent Member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for the 2020-21 period and as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Việt Nam has, so far, done remarkably well in responding to COVID-19 by deploying a series of early, proactive, consistent and effective strategies.
However, real challenges still remain, including on the socio-economic front and in terms of building back differently and better while staying on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN stands ready to continue to support Việt Nam as it seeks to meet these challenges and achieve its ‘new normal’.
Việt Nam had prepared well in advance for its heavy and challenging political responsibilities in the global arena in 2020.
In January, Việt Nam began its rare twin-responsibilities of being both a rotating non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (for 2020-21) and the ASEAN Chair for 2020 simultaneously.
The country was immediately thrust into the global spotlight while assuming the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of January for alphabetical reasons.
Leading the Security Council in its discussions and resolutions on such sensitive matters as the Libyan peace process, and continuing conflicts in Syria and Yemen, Việt Nam skillfully navigated challenging, tricky waters on the world stage.
The highlight of the month was an open debate in early January, presided by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh, at which UN Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter, and to an international order based on international law as the indispensable foundation of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. The crux of the discussion was to emphasise the importance of multilateralism and global solidarity.
The message from this open debate at the Security Council chaired by Việt Nam resonates more than ever now, at the time of COVID-19. As Việt Nam was embarking on its ambitious goals at the regional and global levels, COVID-19 appeared in the country on January 23.
Việt Nam then sprang into action. Its early, proactive, consistent, robust, strategic and effective measures to contain two phases of the virus have, so far, resulted in less than 300 cases of confirmed infections, zero deaths, and over an 80 per cent recovery rate, despite sharing a long land border with China which was the original epicentre of COVID-19.
Nonetheless, the pandemic has been ruthless in its disruption of the global economy, and Việt Nam, which is significantly integrated into global value chains, has already experienced the initial impacts of this. Yet, Việt Nam thus far appears to have been able to largely flatten the epidemic curve without exhibiting a steep economic impact curve because of a combination of its effective measures with respect to the pandemic, the provision of a US$2.6 billion social protection cash package for vulnerable population groups, and a relatively quick, yet measured, return to near normal once the outbreak was largely contained last month.
I congratulate the people and the Government of Việt Nam on their tremendous achievement in responding to and addressing the crisis thus far. At the same time, I must emphasise that there are still many real challenges the country faces both immediately and in the coming months.
They include avoiding another significant wave of infections, minimising the severity of the negative economic impact, and kick-starting the socio-economic recovery to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, whilst taking care of the most vulnerable and leaving no one behind.
I would like to think that by leveraging its successful response so far, at least some of the challenges and difficulties caused by COVID-19 can be turned into real opportunities, through which Việt Nam, through a whole-of-political system and whole-of-society approach, transforms the crisis into a better future for its citizens, especially the most vulnerable, emerging as a leader at both regional and global levels in the post-COVID-19 world.
Allow me to focus on a few key priorities at this critical juncture. First, strengthening health systems needs to remain the top priority. The Government of Việt Nam is now better prepared for any eventuality regarding COVID-19 than it was in January, with its public health sector having performed impressively thus far. In light of the unpredictable nature of the virus, however, we must all remain vigilant and take all possible preventive measures.
While taking care of the crisis on the domestic front, Việt Nam has provided PPE and medical supplies to a number of countries, in particular in Europe, and also made a generous contribution to the WHO, which I have warmly welcomed.
There are many lessons from Việt Nam’s COVID-19 response which should be shared with the rest of the world on how to contain pandemics and infectious diseases based on both its previous SARS and now COVID-19 experiences. The WHO and the UN as a whole are prioritising sharing its good practices in this area.
Second, Việt Nam needs to prioritise both its socio-economic recovery and building back differently and better. Like in other parts of the world, the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 may be felt in Việt Nam for a long time. Since the country is about to score a victory over the second wave of COVID-19, the road to full socio-economic recovery should become the real focus in the immediate weeks and months.
In light of the disruptions in global supply chains and international trade, on which it significantly depends, Việt Nam could consider taking urgent system-wide measures, such as increasing financial support for domestic micro, small and medium enterprises to enable them to remain solvent and reduce unemployment. Priority should be placed on those that can provide both significant formal employment and domestic value-added backward linkages for key strategic global supply chains prioritising in green technologies and agricultural value-added industries in which Việt Nam has clear competitive advantages.
Consideration should also be given to temporary tax and fiscal measures which encourage employment and labour intensive public investment. It will be a major achievement if Việt Nam can continue to keep the epidemic curve flat whilst simultaneously avoiding a steep economic recession curve. This is a realistic possibility in its case which cannot be said for most countries in the world. If it is able to achieve this by end-2020, Việt Nam will once again show itself to be a regional and global leader.
All of this must be done whilst ensuring that the most vulnerable sections of society, who may have been hit hard in the last few months, are not further left behind. Crucially, this COVID-19 crisis cannot be allowed to further increase inequalities and reverse the progress Việt Nam has made over the last few decades to combat extreme poverty and advance gender equality. Together with the Government, the UN is also committed to continuing to push forward towards achieving Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and ensuring that all Vietnamese people fully enjoy their fundamental rights.
In the medium- to long-term, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Việt Nam will also need to respond to the non-COVID urgent crises which it faces, such as addressing the complex causes of drought and salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta by enacting long-term sustainable development changes which mitigate the effects of climate change and move the country towards a more inclusive, renewable energy-based greener economy.
Based on the UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19, which was launched by the UN Deputy-Secretary-General in late April, the UN stands ready to make its wide array of expertise available to the Government and people of Việt Nam in support of their efforts to ‘build back better’ and bounce back strongly.
At the regional level, I have observed that Việt Nam is showing its keenness to lead ASEAN towards recovery and stability. As the ASEAN Chair, as soon as the impact of COVID-19 was felt, Việt Nam began leading a series of ASEAN meetings, and held a virtual ASEAN Summit and ASEAN Plus Three Summit on 14 April to strengthen regional cooperation, and more importantly, catalyse co-operation on the post-pandemic economic response and recovery. Specifically, a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund for public health emergencies will be established under its leadership, and a regional stockpile of medical supplies will be set up for future epidemics.
Its role at the regional level builds on the second open debate at the UN Security Council Việt Nam presided over in late January. This focused on ASEAN-UN co-operation for the first time, including peaceful settlement of disputes, preventive diplomacy, disarmament, peacekeeping, counter-terrorism and maritime co-operation.
The debate touched on such issues as the East Sea (South China Sea) and the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, as well as the importance of the SDGs and their interlinkages with peace and security. Given its dual regional and global roles in 2020, and also because it appears to be coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic ahead of many other countries, Việt Nam is in a position to play a leading role both at regional and global levels, bringing synergy and cohesiveness between ASEAN and the UN in tackling some of the most critical and sensitive issues which intersect both levels.
This year, we are also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UN. Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated more vividly than any other issue why we need global co-operation and solidarity anchored in the United Nations. The issue is not whether we need the UN, but how we can strengthen, and yes, reform it - to meet the unprecedented challenges of the 21st century. The UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit Việt Nam in November to attend the ASEAN Summit and related summits.
I sincerely hope that the November visit will provide an opportunity for Việt Nam, ASEAN and the UN to strengthen their commitment to multilateralism and global solidarity in a tangible manner, reinforcing Việt Nam’s role in the region and allowing it to make even greater contributions to the rest of the world, given its rich experiences and many successes both recently and over the last few decades.
*Kamal Malhotra is UN resident co-ordinator in Việt Nam
Original Op-ed published on Viet Nam News: https://bit.ly/2SXpzUD
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18 November 2020
The UN in Viet Nam dragon boat promotes One UN Spirit for UN75 and Sustainable Development Goals
In November, the weather in Viet Nam turns cooler in the northern provinces allowing people to enjoy outdoor activities after a long and hot summer. The 2020 Dragon Boat Race was organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee on 14 November 2020 calling both amateur and professional paddlers and athletes to compete in the West Lake – one of the signatures of Hanoi.
Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, UN staff in Viet Nam organized a dragon boat team to represent the United Nations in the amateur race and promote Sustainable Development Goals. Comprised of 14 members of six nationalities from seven UN agencies, the team practiced during weekends and early in the morning to come together as One UN and paddle in harmony.
“The most important thing in dragon boat is that you must paddle together in sync to give it the speed. You can have 10 physically fit people, but the boat will not go forward unless you are paddling as if you are one person. It’s just like how different UN agencies are working together for the same goal of supporting Viet Nam,” said Tran Quynh Hoa, ILO Communications Officer who initiated the idea and a regular rower.
The core message of the United Nations in 2020 has been solidarity and global cooperation. The Secretary-General reiterated the message in his speeches for the General Assembly and many High-Level events that there is no way for the world to overcome global challenges and the pandemic without putting the people at the center calling for stronger and greater solidarity to overcome global crises and to build back better.
“I am very proud of our One UN team who participated in the Race, and it shows that we are more beautiful and stronger together. We are all set to help Viet Nam achieve SDGs by 2030!” said Kamal Malhotra, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam.
“I am glad that we could represent the United Nations and promote SDGs to the public who joined and observed the race. I believe the team manifested solidarity and how a group of people from different nationality, background and organization can come together to fight for a common goal. And we had a lot of fun together as One UN Dragon Boat Team,” said Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative and Chair of UN Communications Group who joined the team as drummer. Naomi was wrapped in SDGs flag to bring more visibility to the team.
In previous years, the city had organized the Dragon Boat Festival for both national and international teams to join. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city only invited teams in Viet Nam to stimulate domestic tourism and promote the spirit of culture and sports for local Vietnamese to participate and enjoy. As of 14 November, Viet Nam had gone almost 90 days without local transmission of COVID-19.
More photos can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSbHRBa
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Story
01 September 2021
UNODC expands work with law enforcement academies in Southeast Asia to mitigate long-term impacts of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt social and economic life, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has adapted how it delivers and is adopting new strategies to train law enforcement officers across Southeast Asia. Prior to the pandemic, experts and international trainers typically travelled between countries to deliver workshops and facilitate mock operations and practical exercises. However, as governments throughout the region have enforced strict closed borders and introduced limitations on in-person gatherings to limit the spread of COVID-19, UNODC has explored and developed new approaches to reach and assist counterparts.
Through agreements with national law enforcement academies, UNODC’s border management programme has established state-of-the-art training rooms to conduct professional development workshops, and is regularly delivering advanced training courses addressing illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime. These partnerships have offered UNODC and key institutional partners a sustainable and effective training model which invests in national expertise, and that provides a well-equipped learning environment for frontline officers. Central to the partnership model is the professional development of instructors themselves. Following agreement with an academy, UNODC delivers an instructors’ development course for national trainers based on a series of UNODC developed modules on specialized investigation techniques. The series of ‘core curricula’ modules —available in English, Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese—are designed around the responsibilities of, and fundamental skills required by, junior, mid-ranking, and senior officers, and cover a range of topics related to investigating various types of transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. Following the completion of ‘training-of-trainers’ workshops, instructors deliver lessons themselves, ensuring critical information and skills reach officers throughout the ranks of law enforcement agencies in the region.
“Our partnerships with training academies are about providing sustainable platforms for member states to achieve results,” said Valentina Pancieri, UNODC Regional Coordinator for the Border Management Programme. She added, “the ability to pass on knowledge and skills this way ensures we have an impact on a workforce and not a single group of students.” UNODC has established partnerships with three academies—two in Viet Nam and one in the Philippines— and has completed extensive training-of-trainers workshops at the Viêt Nam Customs School and the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy. Importantly, previously trained instructors from the Viêt Nam Customs School lead sessions alongside international trainers during training with the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy, using the skills they developed during the earlier workshop. Agreements with academies in Thailand and Cambodia are now in-place and courses are scheduled in the coming months.
“We have acquired a lot of knowledge and learned skills related to in-class instruction as well as specialized investigation techniques, including crime scene investigation, surveillance, managing controlled deliveries and using technology such as GPS trackers,” remarked Major Mac Xuan Huong, of the Viêt Nam Criminal Police Department. “The core curricula is very helpful and I will be using it and applying the lessons learned when instructing my students at the People’s Police Academy.” UNODC will continue to expand partnerships with training academies throughout 2021 and 2022 for professional development and regional cooperation, and is developing specialized curricula on specific topics and crime types. The regional border management and cybercrime programmes are working with partner academies in Viêt Nam to develop curricula on digital evidence analysis and cybercrime investigations for national instructors to deliver at the Customs School and People’s Police Academy, and the regional precursor programme is developing curricula to enhance knowledge and skills for precursor chemical investigations.
“We know from our experience here in Southeast Asia that law enforcement agencies need a shared understanding of challenges and solutions. Training following a common core curriculum can in many respects provide this foundation – in a sense it means trainers and trainees start to share a common language around the issues they work on” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “More effective and cooperation and coordination follows, and it leads to operational outcomes.”
As UNODC’s network of partner academies grows in Southeast Asia, so too will the opportunity for cooperation between academies and law enforcement officers. The use of a shared core curriculum will, over time, create similar perceptions between law enforcement agencies in the region.
Through agreements with national law enforcement academies, UNODC’s border management programme has established state-of-the-art training rooms to conduct professional development workshops, and is regularly delivering advanced training courses addressing illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime. These partnerships have offered UNODC and key institutional partners a sustainable and effective training model which invests in national expertise, and that provides a well-equipped learning environment for frontline officers. Central to the partnership model is the professional development of instructors themselves. Following agreement with an academy, UNODC delivers an instructors’ development course for national trainers based on a series of UNODC developed modules on specialized investigation techniques. The series of ‘core curricula’ modules —available in English, Burmese, Khmer, Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese—are designed around the responsibilities of, and fundamental skills required by, junior, mid-ranking, and senior officers, and cover a range of topics related to investigating various types of transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking. Following the completion of ‘training-of-trainers’ workshops, instructors deliver lessons themselves, ensuring critical information and skills reach officers throughout the ranks of law enforcement agencies in the region.
“Our partnerships with training academies are about providing sustainable platforms for member states to achieve results,” said Valentina Pancieri, UNODC Regional Coordinator for the Border Management Programme. She added, “the ability to pass on knowledge and skills this way ensures we have an impact on a workforce and not a single group of students.” UNODC has established partnerships with three academies—two in Viet Nam and one in the Philippines— and has completed extensive training-of-trainers workshops at the Viêt Nam Customs School and the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy. Importantly, previously trained instructors from the Viêt Nam Customs School lead sessions alongside international trainers during training with the Viêt Nam People’s Police Academy, using the skills they developed during the earlier workshop. Agreements with academies in Thailand and Cambodia are now in-place and courses are scheduled in the coming months.
“We have acquired a lot of knowledge and learned skills related to in-class instruction as well as specialized investigation techniques, including crime scene investigation, surveillance, managing controlled deliveries and using technology such as GPS trackers,” remarked Major Mac Xuan Huong, of the Viêt Nam Criminal Police Department. “The core curricula is very helpful and I will be using it and applying the lessons learned when instructing my students at the People’s Police Academy.” UNODC will continue to expand partnerships with training academies throughout 2021 and 2022 for professional development and regional cooperation, and is developing specialized curricula on specific topics and crime types. The regional border management and cybercrime programmes are working with partner academies in Viêt Nam to develop curricula on digital evidence analysis and cybercrime investigations for national instructors to deliver at the Customs School and People’s Police Academy, and the regional precursor programme is developing curricula to enhance knowledge and skills for precursor chemical investigations.
“We know from our experience here in Southeast Asia that law enforcement agencies need a shared understanding of challenges and solutions. Training following a common core curriculum can in many respects provide this foundation – in a sense it means trainers and trainees start to share a common language around the issues they work on” said Jeremy Douglas, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “More effective and cooperation and coordination follows, and it leads to operational outcomes.”
As UNODC’s network of partner academies grows in Southeast Asia, so too will the opportunity for cooperation between academies and law enforcement officers. The use of a shared core curriculum will, over time, create similar perceptions between law enforcement agencies in the region.
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Story
23 August 2021
Strengthening Border Management in Viet Nam to Counter Transnational Organized Crime
Transnational organized crime presents a serious threat to security and stability in Southeast Asia and neighboring regions, harming the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, compromising and undermining economic development. Over the past decade, the security landscape in Southeast Asia has transformed. Historical patterns of transnational organized crime have accelerated, and new illicit markets have emerged, together generating billions of dollars each year for criminal organizations. In this changing environment, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is working with member states in Southeast Asia to counter this threat to regional security.
Of the various types of illicit trafficking affecting Southeast Asia, the illicit drug trade is the most significant challenge today. The illicit drug market in Southeast Asia is the world’s largest, with production and trafficking estimated to be worth over US$70 billion in 2019. The regional drug trade has continued to grow during the COVID-19 pandemic despite border closures and strict travel restrictions intended to stop the spread of disease; the volume of methamphetamine seized in Viet Nam and other lower Mekong countries rose 19% over the previous year in 2020.[1] Viet Nam is utilized to be an transshipment point for criminal organizations,. Traffickers smuggle narcotics and other illicit goods across Viet Nam’s land borders with Cambodia and Lao PDR before shipping contraband overseas through the country’s major ports.
“There is a change in the movement of illicit drugs trafficking in the region,” said Ms. Valentina Pancieri, Regional Coordinator for UNODC’s Border Management Programme in Southeast Asia.
“Since 2019, to cope with law enforcement in the border areas of Myanmar and Thailand, criminals have again changed their routes. Illicit drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin have been transported through Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, which shows that Vietnam is not only a drug market but also a transit that the criminals take advantage to traffick drug to third countries.”
The challenges authorities in Viet Nam face at border crossings are two-fold: mechanisms for coordinating investigations into transnational crime are underdeveloped, and the technical capacity of law enforcement agencies is limited. As a result, drug trafficking frequently goes undetected and investigations often end at national borders, culminating in individual arrests and seizures instead of trafficking rings and more significant disruptions to regional criminal networks.
To address these challenges, Viet Nam and neighboring countries in the Mekong basin cooperate to strengthen border management practices through the Regional Border Liaison Office (BLO) Network. With technical and policy support from UNODC, the Regional BLO Network has supported counter-drug trafficking efforts in the region since 1998 by providing a platform for real-time information sharing between cross-border counterparts and regional cooperation and facilitating technical capacity building activities for law enforcement officers. In addition, this network enhances the cooperation in combating against crime and drug trafficking across borders.
In Viet Nam, the Counter Narcotics Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) cooperates with UNODC, domestic counterparts, and foreign governments to address illicit trafficking at border crossings and the regional level. At operational BLOs, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with mandates related to transnational organized crime—anti-narcotic police, criminal police, environmental police, customs, immigration, border guards, forestry enforcement, etc.—work together to share intelligence, coordinate investigations, and collect information related to illicit activity.
With members from different agencies, twenty-one BLOs in Viet Nam currently support effectively in conducting operations along the nation’s borders and cross the borders to interdict and prevent drug trafficking along high-risk routes. For instance, in February 2020, officers at a BLO in Sepon district worked with their cross-border counterparts from Lao Bao BLO, in Lao PDR, to support in arresting drug traffickers, seize 6,800 methamphetamine tablets, and to expand an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking in the area.[2]
At the regional level, the BLO network provides a forum to convene regional stakeholders and advance the policy dialogue on border management issues by convening regular workshops and consultations for governments represented in the network. At these meetings, delegates from BLOs and central authorities discuss challenges and share best practices among network to advance new policy solutions. In this way, the BLO network supports the strategic objectives of the ASEAN Political – Security Community by enhancing counter drug trafficking through improved border management practices.
UNODC and its regional counterparts, including MoPS, also mobilize the BLO network to build the capacity of frontline border officers. Officers from new and existing BLOs participate in regular trainings, cross-border workshops, and joint patrols to develop their technical ability. UNODC has also sponsored a number of national and international study tours for officers from Viet Nam to share best practices with foreign and domestic counterparts. Recently, UNODC has broadened its training approach to partner with national training academies in the region, including the Customs School and People’s Police Academy in Viet Nam. This effort aims to enhance the training offered to frontline officers of all ranks to place a greater emphasis on capacity building for investigation related to transnational organized crime and illicit trafficking.
In addition to offering training to frontline officers directly and through national academies, UNODC provides material support to new and existing BLOs in Viet Nam to enhance law enforcement operations at border crossings. It supports the expansion of the network and maintenance of existing locations, including providing officers with state-of-the-art technical equipment such as drug and precursor testing kits, crime scene investigation materials, and surveillance equipment.
According to Major General Do Duc Binh, Deputy Head of Vietnam Investigation Police Department on Drug-related Crimes, MoPS, “criminals are likely to take advantage of modern information technology, which makes criminal prevention more difficult. It is important to have modern equipment to support border officials in effectively detecting and preventing transnational organized crimes in the border areas.”
Although illicit activity has been implemented in border management in the region, there is an increasing trend of transnational crime with complexity and unprecedented risk. . By cooperating with regional partners and UNODC, MoPS, and the government of Viet Nam are working to ensure the region’s borders are protected from illicit trafficking.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) works with countries to make the world safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. UNODC is the guardian of the United Nations drug conventions: the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). UNODC’s Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (ROSEAP) in Bangkok, Thailand serves as the hub for the organization’s activities in the region, including for programmes addressing transnational organized crime, alternative development, drug demand and harm reduction, criminal justice reform, and counterterrorism. Through these efforts, UNODC works with various government counterparts to advance the UN’s sustainable development agenda.
Based in ROSEAP, the Regional Border Management Programme was created to address the unique threats faced by governments in Southeast Asia—namely high rates of criminal activity and limited mechanisms for cross-border coordination—and has had an ongoing influence on security policy in the region. Through the Border Management Programme and BLO Network, UNODC supports law enforcement operations at frontline border crossings and contributes to policy dialogue on issues related to border management in the region. Vietnam joined the BLO network in 2000. At present, UNODC has supported the establishment of establish 21 BLOs in Vietnam along the country’s borders with Cambodia, China, and Lao PDR.
[1] UNODC report 2021 “Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: latest developments and challenges”
[2] Source : Quảng Trị: Triệt phá vụ vận chuyển 6.800 viên ma túy tổng hợp | baotintuc.vn
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13 August 2021
Youth Participation – the power of young people towards SDGs achievements
“Vietnamese young people are the key agents for change and innovation towards the achievements of sustainability, resilience and leaving no one behind” is the message, which was sent out to young people from all walks of life in Vietnam at the celebration of the International Youth Day 2021. It was organized jointly by the United Nations in Viet Nam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union on 12 August 2021.
Under the theme: “Youth participation: The power of young people towards SDGs achievement”, Vietnamese young people joined a virtual discussion on the implementation of the 2020 Youth Law and young people’s meaningful participation and contributions to the national sustainable development process, regardless of sex, disabilities, social and economic status, location, ethnic background or sexual orientation.
Live-streamed at the fan-pages of the UN in Vietnam and the HCM Communist Youth Union, the International Youth Day 2021 acknowledged the contributions of young volunteers and activists who are pushing for positive change, and amplified young peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal and equitable engagement.
The young participants also shared their views on the 2020 Youth Law, the rights and responsibilities of all young people including vulnerable groups of youth as well as obligations of the responsible entities to meet their rights. They strongly confirmed that Vietnamese young people including vulnerable groups of youth, for example ethnic minority youth, young migrant workers, young people with disabilities, young LGBTQIA+ and young people aged 16-18 are the key agents for change and innovation towards the achievements of sustainability, resilience and leaving no one behind.
H’Hen Niê, Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, a dynamic and energetic young volunteer, shared her experience when providing support to doctors and nurses as well as local people during the COVID-19 social distancing measures: “I voluntarily join the city’s young artists and people to support the doctors and nurses and the communities. I want to make some modest contributions to the fight against COVID-19. I think I have changed a lot these days. At this moment, I consider myself a volunteer. I’m neither a Miss Universe nor a celebrity. I perform the tasks wholeheartedly no matter how hard it is. Compared to what the health workers are doing now, my hardship is nothing. I call on all young people to think positively and find innovative ways to support our communities, be it a physical or a spiritual contribution. Let us unite and together we will win in the fight against COVID-19 and together we will contribute to the sustainable development of our communities and our country as a whole.”
In his opening speech, Mr. Nguyen Tuong Lam, the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union confirmed that the power of young people and their actions are the nation’s treasures. He said: “The youth is a large social force, one of the most important elements determining the future and the destiny of the nation. Young people are the major force in many areas, who are responsible for many works that require sacrifice, hardship, good health and innovation. In the most vibrant ages physically and psychologically, young people are always dynamic and creative, with strong self-assertion.”
Ms. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Vietnam and Chair of the UN Thematic Group for Adolescents and Youth in Viet Nam, reaffirmed in her opening speech that young people’s unique and crucial roles in policy and decision-making processes at local, national, regional and international levels.
She said: “The United Nations in Viet Nam acknowledges the efforts of the Government in providing adolescents and youth with opportunities to design, participate in and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country. The approval of the revised Youth Law by Vietnam’s National Assembly during its 14th session in June 2020 is one of the greatest strides for Viet Nam to ensure young people’s roles, responsibilities and rights in the national development process. The Youth Law explains young people’s participation; states clear responsibilities of the Government; the Viet Nam National Youth Committee and other organizations, and ensures the allocation of the state budget for the implementation of the Youth Law. Moreover, specific policies to support young people from ethnic minorities and those aged 16 to 18 were included in the policy provisions.”
Youth engagement is important because in every single thematic area of policies that need to be made, there are always ways to incorporate youth issues and reflect voices of young people. This is particularly critical when Viet Nam is currently benefiting from the demographic window of opportunity called “demographic bonus,” in which the country has the largest number of young people in its history. The right investment in young people is a must to accelerate socio-economic growth of Viet Nam.
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Story
13 August 2021
Sự tham gia của thanh niên – Sức trẻ góp phần đạt được các Mục tiêu Phát triển Bền Vững
Thông điệp “Thanh viên Việt Nam là những nhân tố chính làm nên sự thay đổi, sáng tạo hướng tới đạt được phát triển bền vững, có khả năng ứng phó và không bỏ ai ở lại phía sau” được gửi đến tất cả các bạn trẻ Việt Nam tại Lễ Kỷ niệm Ngày Quốc tế Thanh niên 2021 do Liên Hợp Quốc tại Việt Nam và Trung ương Đoàn Thanh niên Cộng Sản Hồ Chí Minh đồng tổ chức tại Hà Nội ngày 12 tháng 8 năm 2021.
Với chủ đề: “Sự tham gia của thanh niên: Sức trẻ góp phần đạt được các Mục tiêu Phát triển Bền Vững”, thanh niên Việt Nam đã tham gia thảo luận trực tuyến về thực thi Luật Thanh niên 2020 và sự tham gia cũng như đóng góp có ý nghĩa của thế hệ trẻ vào quá trình phát triển bền vững của đất nước, cho dù họ có sự khác biệt về giới tính, về tình trạng khuyết tật, về tình trạng kinh tế và xã hội, về địa bàn, dân tộc hay xu hướng tính dục.
Được phát sóng trực tiếp trên fanpage của Liên Hợp Quốc tại Việt Nam và fanpage cổng thông tin Trung ương Đoàn, Ngày Quốc tế Thanh niên năm 2021 ghi nhận sự đóng góp của các tình nguyện viên và nhà hoạt động trẻ tuổi, những người đang thúc đẩy sự thay đổi tích cực, tăng cường tiếng nói, hành động và sáng kiến của thanh niên, cũng như sự tham gia có ý nghĩa, toàn diện và bình đẳng của họ.
Các bạn trẻ tham gia sự kiện cũng chia sẻ quan điểm của họ về Luật Thanh niên 2020, quyền và trách nhiệm của tất cả thanh niên, bao gồm cả các nhóm thanh niên dễ bị tổn thương cũng như trách nhiệm của các cơ quan, đoàn thể có liên quan đáp ứng quyền của thanh niên. Họ khẳng định mạnh mẽ rằng thanh niên Việt Nam bao gồm các nhóm dễ bị tổn thương, như thanh niên dân tộc thiểu số, thanh niên di cư, thanh niên khuyết tật, thanh niên LGBTQIA+ và cả thanh thiếu niên tuổi từ 16 – 18, là những nhân tố làm nên sự thay đổi và sáng tạo, hướng tới đạt được các mục tiêu phát triển bền vững, có khả năng ứng phó trước những biến đổi và không ai bị bỏ lại phía sau.
Hoa Hậu Hoàn vũ Việt Nam năm 2017, H’Hen Niê, một thanh niên năng động và tràn đầy nhiệt huyết, đã chia sẻ kinh nghiệm của mình khi hỗ trợ các y, bác sĩ cũng như là người dân địa phương trong các đợt giãn cách xã hội do Covid-19: “Tôi tình nguyện tham gia cùng các nghệ sĩ trẻ và các bạn trẻ hỗ trợ các y, bác sĩ ở tuyến đầu và cộng đồng. Tôi mong muốn đóng góp dù là những đóng góp khiêm tốn cho cuộc chiến chống lại COVID-19. Tôi nghĩ rằng tôi đã và đang thay đổi từng ngày. Tại thời điểm này, tôi coi mình là một tình nguyện viên. Tôi không phải là Hoa Hậu và cũng không phải là người nổi tiếng. Tôi hết lòng tham gia các hoạt động tình nguyện bất kể công việc có vất vả tới đâu. So với những khó nhọc của các y, bác sĩ đang làm việc ở tuyến đầu chống dịch thì sự mệt nhọc của tôi có là gì đâu. Tôi mong tất cả các bạn trẻ hãy suy nghĩ tích cực và góp phần hỗ trợ cộng đồng một cách sáng tạo, cho dù đóng góp của các bạn về vật chất hay tinh thần. Chúng ta hãy đoàn kết, chúng ta hãy hành động để đẩy lùi đại dịch COVID-19 và góp phần phát triển cộng đồng và đất nước bền vững.”
Trong lời phát biểu khai mạc của mình, Ông Nguyễn Tường Lâm, Bí Thư Trung ương Đoàn TNCS Hồ Chí Minh đã khẳng định sức trẻ và hành động của thanh niên là một phần sức mạnh của quốc gia. Ông cho rằng: "Thanh niên là lực lượng xã hội to lớn, một trong những nhân tố quan trọng quyết định tương lai, vận mệnh dân tộc; là lực lượng chủ yếu trên nhiều lĩnh vực, đảm nhiệm những công việc đòi hỏi hy sinh, gian khổ, sức khỏe và sáng tạo. Thanh niên là độ tuổi sung sức nhất về thể chất và phát triển trí tuệ, luôn năng động, sáng tạo, muốn tự khẳng định mình."
Trong bài phát biểu của mình, Bà Naomi Kitahara, Trưởng đại diện Quỹ Dân số Liên Hợp Quốc tại Việt Nam, Trưởng nhóm Hành động vì Vị Thanh Niên và Thanh niên Việt Nam của Liên Hợp Quốc tại Việt Nam, đã khẳng định vai trò duy nhất và quan trọng của thanh niên trong quá trình ra quyết định và hoạch định chính sách ở cấp địa phương, quốc gia, khu vực và quốc tế.
Bà cho rằng: "Liên Hợp Quốc tại Việt Nam ghi nhận những nỗ lực của Chính phủ trong việc tạo cơ hội cho thanh thiếu niên tham gia các quá trình hoạch định, xây dựng, thực hiện chính sách và góp phần cho sự phát triển kinh tế - xã hội của đất nước. Việc Quốc hội thông qua Luật Thanh niên sửa đổi trong kỳ họp thứ 14 vào tháng 6 năm 2020 là một trong những bước tiến lớn nhất của Việt Nam nhằm đảm bảo vai trò, trach nhiệm và quyền của thanh niên trong quá trình phát triển đất nước. Luật Thanh niên giải thích sự tham gia của thanh niên, làm rõ trách nhiệm của Chính phủ, Ủy Ban Quốc gia về Thanh niên và các tổ chức khác; và đảm bảo sự phân bổ của ngân sách quốc gia trong việc thực thi Luật Thanh niên. Ngoài ra, các chính sách cụ thể nhằm hỗ trợ thanh niên dân tộc thiểu số và thanh niên từ đủ 16 tuổi đến 18 tuổi đã được đưa vào Luật sửa đổi."
Sự tham gia của thanh niên là rất quan trọng và luôn luôn đề xuất các giải pháp phù hợp để đưa các vấn đề về thanh niên, phản ánh tiếng nói của thanh niên trong quá trình xây dựng chính sách cho mỗi ngành, mỗi lĩnh vực. Điều này càng đặc biệt quan trọng khi Việt Nam hiện đang được hưởng lợi từ cơ hội nhân khẩu học mang lại, đó là Việt Nam hiện đang có số lượng thanh niên lớn nhất trong lịch sử. Đầu tư đúng lúc cho thanh niên là điều cần thiết để đẩy nhanh tốc độ tăng trưởng kinh tế - xã hội của Việt Nam.
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16 June 2021
Women in Viet Nam learn how to stay safe when working abroad
Ha Tinh, Viet Nam – Thi Nguyen said she sensed something was wrong when the taxi driver in Bangkok, after realizing she was a migrant worker from Viet Nam, took what he said was “a new road” to her destination. She tried to stay calm.
“When he reached the edge of a forest, he locked all the doors and went out for a call, perhaps looking for smugglers” she said. “As soon as he got back into the taxi, I told him, using my fluent Thai speaking skills, that I had just called my cousin, who would report the incident to the local police if he did not drive me back.” “I was lucky. He finally got scared so I could come home.” Thi recalled.
Migrant worker Thi Nguyen recounts her narrow escape from danger in Thailand, during the UN Women-supported workshop in Ha Tinh, Viet Nam, on 22 April 2021. Photo: UN Women/Thao Hoang
Thi said that after that experience five years ago, she always took photos of the plates and sent them to friends before stepping into any car.
She shared her experience at a training for about 60 women who had worked abroad and returned to Thach Ha and Hong Linh communes of Ha Tinh city in Northern-Central-Viet Nam. The rate of overseas migration from this area is very high. The women had worked in Asia and Europe, had to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but wished to go back abroad.
Migrant workers attending the UN-supported workshop in Ha Tinh, Viet Nam, on 23 April 2021 show their hopes for future journeys abroad. The sign at the left foreground says, “No violence-No valuing men above women”. Photo: UN Women/Thao Hoang
The Institute for Social Development Studies, a civil society organization led by gender expert Khuat Thu Hong, facilitated the 21-25 April training as part of the Safe and Fair Programme. The programme is run jointly by International Labour Organization and UN Women and helps protect South-East Asia’s migrant workers from violence and abuse. It is part of the Spotlight Initiative by the European Union and the United Nations to end violence against women and girls.
Migrant workers attending the UN Women-supported workshop on 23 April 2021 in Ha Tinh, Viet Nam, make lists of the different types of violence they should watch out for while abroad. Photo: UN Women/Thao Hoang
According to International Labour Organization, about 400,000 Vietnamese are now working in over 40 countries and territories. The number of women among the migrants increased from 10 per cent in 2000 to nearly 40 per cent in 2017, the Government of Viet Nam says.
Women who are either documented or undocumented workers, face risks of violence and abuse from recruiters, employers, and others. Those who lack documents or do domestic labour are particularly vulnerable.
“Migration presents opportunities not only for the migrants, but also for the countries of origin, transit and destination. However, there is work to be done to ensure that labour migration is safe, particularly for women,” said Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Representative in Viet Nam.
Through capacity building and knowledge exchange interventions of the Safe and Fair Programme, women migrant workers learned about gender equality, types of violence against women, and ways to access information and quality support services in both the origin and destination countries. They also formed online and offline groups to continue exchanging information on these and other migrant worker topics via social media. They have become more confident to share what they learned with others who plan to migrate abroad to reduce risks throughout their migration pathway.
Thi, who was working in a restaurant, returned from Thailand last year with her two children. Her husband is still working there, and she plans to go back.
However, Cam Nguyen, 38, has no wish to go back abroad. She said she had worked 10-12 hours a day, every day and without holidays or vacation, at a textile factory in Taiwan and was paid only a third of the contracted salary.
“After 18 months, I lost 11 kilos,” she said at the workshop. “My family’s loan had been paid several years ago. I want to stay home to take care of my children. Sometimes, I still dream of hearing the foreman shouting in the textile factory,” Cam said.
Cam Nguyen (second from right) and other migrant workers share their hopes for future journeys abroad, during the UN Women-supported workshop in Ha Tinh, Viet Nam, on 24 April 2021. Cam’s hope is for “good health”. Photo: UN Women/Thao Hoang
Cam says she is happy in Viet Nam; however, she wants to help others prepare for better experiences abroad and how to stay safe. She is a leader of the exchange-information group in Hong Linh’s commune, which started with 20 core members in July 2020 and has doubled in size.
The Safe and Fair Programme is part of the European Union funded multi-year Spotlight Initiative jointly implemented by ILO and UN Women to eliminate violence against women migrant workers throughout their migration cycle in the 10 ASEAN countries. In Viet Nam, the Safe and Fair programme engages multiple partners to strengthen gender sensitive labour migration governance frameworks and institutional capacity for protecting rights of women migrant workers, enhance coordination and access to quality essential services among survivors of violence, and improve public awareness and attitude about the rights and contributions of women migrant workers.
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Press Release
22 September 2021
Enhancing the quality assurance quality control programme of residue testing laboratories
The training programme was organized under the framework of the on-going Vietnam Project entitled “Increase quality and standards compliance capacity of mango value chain in Mekong River Delta”, a component of the Global Quality and Standards Programme which is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Opening the event, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong – Deputy Director General of Plant Protection Department said “We highly appreciate the technical assistance of UNIDO and finance support of SECO. The training program is designed for 5 selected laboratories of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Science and Technology. It’s very practical and useful for laboratory staffs. Its objective is to upgrade the internal quality control procedures of selected laboratories”.
Mr. Nima Bahramlian, UNIDO project manager added “UNIDO provides technical assistance to ensure that before products enter global markets they are adequately tested according to international standards and conformity assessment requirements. Countries are required to operate laboratories, which are able to test products and samples for compliance to international standards”.
Mr. Do Quang Huy, National Program Officer of SECO said: “Vietnam is one of the countries with the largest trade openness. Hopefully this project will partly solve the problem of quality and trade barriers to penetrate the large quality market. Quality control systems are very important. To help middle-income countries effectively participate in the market, building an international accreditation quality control system is one of the priorities of the Swiss government to help Vietnam participate in the system, based on fair trade rules. This quality standard project is one of SECO’s key projects for Vietnam. The issue of quality will accompany the issue of sustainable agricultural development, associated with the story of digital transformation in agriculture.”
The training program which will end by December 2021 concludes a sery of sessions covering different topics: internal quality control, measurement results determination and interpretation vs MRL, statistical evaluation, sampling principles, mornitoring programme, pre-export testing and control, etc. …. It will contribute to developing the local capacities in product testing, in order to provide services to local testers, producers and exporters according to international best practices, and also to enhance consumer protection.
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Press Release
22 September 2021
Nâng cao chương trình kiểm soát đảm bảo chất lượng của các phòng kiểm nghiệm dư lượng
Chương trình đào tạo được tổ chức trong khuôn khổ dự án đang thực hiện tại Việt Nam mang tên “Nâng cao năng lực tuân thủ tiêu chuẩn và chất lượng của chuỗi giá trị xoài ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long”, là một hợp phần của Chương trình Tiêu chuẩn và Chất lượng Toàn cầu do Cục Kinh tế Liên bang Thụy sĩ (SECO) tài trợ.
Phát biểu khai mạc, bà Nguyễn Thị Thu Hương - Phó cục trưởng cục Bảo vệ Thực vật thuộc Bộ Nông nghiệp và PTNT cho biết “Chúng tôi đánh giá cao sự hỗ trợ kỹ thuật của UNIDO và hỗ trợ tài chính của SECO. Chương trình đào tạo được thiết kế cho 5 trung tâm kiểm nghiệm chất lượng được lựa chọn thuộc Bộ Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn và Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ. Chương trình rất thiết thực và hữu ích cho cán bộ phân tích của các phòng thí nghiệm. Mục tiêu của chương trình nhằm nâng cấp các quy trình kiểm soát chất lượng nội bộ của các trung tâm được lựa chọn”.
Ông Nima Bahramlian, giám đốc dự án của UNIDO cho biết thêm “UNIDO cung cấp hỗ trợ kỹ thuật để đảm bảo rằng các sản phẩm trước khi vào thị trường toàn cầu đều được kiểm tra đầy đủ theo các tiêu chuẩn quốc tế và các yêu cầu về đánh giá sự phù hợp. Các quốc gia bắt buộc phải vận hành các phòng kiểm nghiệm có khả năng kiểm tra các sản phẩm và mẫu để tuân thủ các tiêu chuẩn quốc tế ”.
Ông Đỗ Quang Huy, Cán bộ chương trình của SECO chia sẻ “Việt Nam là một trong những quốc gia có độ mở thương mại lớn nhất. Do đó chúng ta phải nhìn vào vấn đề chất lượng. Hy vọng dự án này sẽ giải quyết được phần nào vấn đề về chất lượng và các rào cản thương mại để thâm nhập vào các thị trường lớn hơn. Hệ thống kiểm soát chất lượng là rất quan trọng. Để giúp các nước có thu nhập trung bình tham gia hiệu quả vào thị trường, việc xây dựng hệ thống kiểm soát chất lượng đạt chuẩn quốc tế là một trong những ưu tiên của chính phủ Thụy Sĩ nhằm giúp Việt Nam tham gia vào hệ thống, dựa trên các quy tắc thương mại công bằng. Dự án tiêu chuẩn chất lượng này là một trong những dự án trọng điểm của SECO đối với Việt Nam. Vấn đề chất lượng sẽ đồng hành với vấn đề phát triển nông nghiệp bền vững, gắn với câu chuyện chuyển đổi số trong nông nghiệp”.
Chương trình đào tạo sẽ kết thúc vào tháng 12 năm 2021, bao gồm nhiều buổi khác nhau với các nội dung: kiểm soát chất lượng nội bộ, xác định và giải thích kết quả đo so với MRL, đánh giá thống kê, nguyên tắc lấy mẫu, chương trình giám sát, kiểm tra và kiểm soát trước khi xuất khẩu, v.v.…. Chương trình đào tạo góp phần phát triển năng lực quốc gia trong việc thử nghiệm sản phẩm, cung cấp dịch vụ cho các đơn vị thử nghiệm, nhà sản xuất và xuất khẩu trong nước theo các thông lệ quốc tế tốt nhất, và cũng để tăng cường bảo vệ người tiêu dùng.
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Press Release
12 August 2021
Hội nghị trực tuyến tổng kết Chiến lược quốc gia về bình đẳng giới giai đoạn 2011-2020 và triển khai Chiến lược quốc gia về bình đẳng giới giai đoạn 2021-2030.
Năm 2019, thực hiện sự chỉ đạo của Thủ tướng Chính phủ, Bộ LĐ-TB&XH, với sự hỗ trợ kỹ thuật và tài chính từ UN Women và ĐSQ Úc tại Việt Nam, đã tiến hành rà soát, đánh giá kết quả thực hiện Chiến lược 2011-2020 để làm cơ sở cho việc xây dựng Chiến lược 2021-2030. Quá trình xây dựng và hoàn thiện dự thảo Chiến lược 2021-2030 đã nhận được sự tham gia, đóng góp ý kiến của hơn 500 đại biểu là đại diện các bộ, ngành, địa phương, các tổ chức Liên hợp quốc, tổ chức xã hội, tổ chức phi chính phủ quốc tế và các nhóm đại diện cho người khuyết tật, người dân tộc thiểu số, nhóm LGBT, thanh niên... Việc xây dựng các mục tiêu, chỉ tiêu của Chiến lược 2021-2030 được xác định cần phù hợp với tình hình phát triển kinh tế – xã hội trong giai đoạn mới của đất nước, hội nhập kinh tế quốc tế và đồng thời hướng tới thực hiện thành công các mục tiêu phát triển bền vững đến năm 2030.
Ngày 03/3/2021, Chính phủ ban hành Nghị quyết số 28/NQ-CP phê duyệt Chiến lược quốc gia về bình đẳng giới giai đoạn 2021-2030 với mục tiêu tổng quát “Tiếp tục thu hẹp khoảng cách giới, tạo điều kiện, cơ hội để phụ nữ và nam giới tham gia, thụ hưởng bình đẳng trong các lĩnh vực của đời sống xã hội, góp phần vào sự phát triển bền vững của đất nước”. Chiến lược gồm 6 mục tiêu và 20 chỉ tiêu cụ thể nhằm tiếp tục thu hẹp khoảng cách giới trong các lĩnh vực: chính trị; kinh tế, lao động; trong đời sống gia đình và phòng ngừa, ứng phó với bạo lực trên cơ sở giới; y tế; giáo dục, đào tạo; thông tin, truyền thông. Bên cạnh một số chỉ tiêu cần tiếp tục duy trì kết quả của giai đoạn trước, Chiến lược 2021-2030 còn bao gồm các chỉ tiêu mới như: giảm tỷ trọng lao động nữ làm việc trong khu vực nông nghiệp; tăng các cơ sở trợ giúp xã hội công lập triển khai các hoạt động trợ giúp, phòng ngừa và ứng phó với bạo lực trên cơ sở giới; giảm tỷ suất sinh ở vị thành niên; các cơ sở y tế cung cấp thí điểm dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe dành cho người đồng tính, song tính và chuyển giới; nội dung về giới, bình đẳng giới được đưa vào chương trình giảng dạy trong hệ thống giáo dục quốc dân...
Để triển khai thực hiện Chiến lược 2021-2030, cũng trong khuôn khổ hợp tác với UNWomen và DFAT, Bộ LĐTBXH đã triển khai xây dựng Tài liệu hướng dẫn thu thập số liệu và báo cáo kết quả thực hiện Chiến lược nhằm hướng dẫn các bộ ngành chủ chốt và các địa phương thực hiện đồng bộ, thống nhất việc thu thập số liệu, báo cáo tình hình thực hiện Chiến lược hằng năm, hướng tới đảm bảo việc theo dõi, đánh giá thực hiện Chiến lược một cách hiệu quả.
Phát biểu khai mạc Hội nghị, Thứ trưởng Bộ LĐ-TB&XH Nguyễn Thị Hà cho biết: “Với nỗ lực của cả hệ thống chính trị, sau 10 năm triển khai Chiến lược, chúng ta đã thu được nhiều kết quả đáng khích lệ, góp phần thu hẹp khoảng cách giới trong các lĩnh vực, đóng góp tích cực vào quá trình phát triển kinh tế- xã hội của đất nước. Đặc biệt, kết quả bầu cử đại biểu Quốc hội khóa XV, đại biểu Hội đồng nhân dân các cấp nhiệm kỳ 2021-2026 với tỷ lệ 30,26% nữ đại biểu Quốc hội và gần 30% nữ tham gia HĐND các cấp là minh chứng rõ nét cho những nỗ lực trong thực hiện bình đẳng giới ở Việt Nam. Những thành tựu này sẽ là nền tảng vững chắc để các cấp, ngành tiếp tục duy trì và phát huy hơn nữa trong việc thực hiện các mục tiêu quốc gia bình đẳng giới trong giai đoạn tới”.
Là cơ quan Liên hợp quốc hỗ trợ kỹ thuật trong quá trình xây dựng Chiến lược 2021-2030, bà Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Trưởng đại diện UN Women tại Việt Nam cho biết: “Quá trình rà soát việc thực hiện Chiến lược giai đoạn 10 năm vừa qua cho thấy, việc đảm bảo nguồn lực tài chính cho bình đẳng giới, đặc biệt từ nguồn chi đầu tư từ ngân sách nhà nước để đủ nguồn lực để thực hiện các mục tiêu của Chiến lược là việc rất cần thiết. Để làm được điều này, cần phải đảm bảo các mục tiêu của Chiến lược được lồng ghép một cách nghiên túc trong các kế hoạch của ngành và địa phương, cũng như các chương trình mục tiêu quốc gia. Việt Nam cũng cần đầu tư có mục tiêu vào thay đổi chuẩn mực xã hội theo hướng thúc đẩy cho bình đẳng giới, đây là điều cốt lõi để thúc đẩy bình đẳng giới mà rất nhiều quốc gia trên thế giới đã phải trải qua. Đây cũng chính là mục tiêu đầu tiên của Chiến lược 2021-2030”.
Bà Robyn Mudie, Đại sứ Australia tại Việt Nam, chúc mừng Chính phủ Việt Nam về việc công bố Chiến lược 2021-2030 và nhấn mạnh: “Rất vinh dự cho Australia khi được Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội mời tham gia hỗ trợ xây dựng Chiến lược quốc gia về bình đẳng giới giai đoạn 2021-2030. Có những cơ hội và thách thức đối với sự tiến bộ của phụ nữ và trẻ em gái trong thập kỷ tới, bao gồm các vấn đề liên quan đến sự già đi của dân số Việt Nam, Cách mạng 4.0 và tự động hóa việc làm. Hướng dẫn và những khuyến nghị của Chiến lược sẽ tạo nền tảng vững chắc để giải quyết các vấn đề này, đồng thời thúc đẩy vai trò của phụ nữ trong nền kinh tế và các vị trí lãnh đạo. Là một đối tác lâu năm về bình đẳng giới và trao quyền kinh tế cho phụ nữ, Australia tự hào khi cung cấp những hỗ trợ thiết thực thông qua nhiều chương trình về giới.”.
Tại Hội nghị, lãnh đạo của Bộ LĐ-TB&XH và UN Women đã kêu gọi nhiều hơn nữa những nỗ lực chung từ phía các bộ, ban, ngành của Chính phủ, các tổ chức xã hội, khu vực tư nhân và các cơ quan của Liên hợp quốc trong việc thúc đẩy bình đẳng giới, hướng tới phát triển bền vững vào năm 2030, để không ai bị bỏ lại phía sau./.
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Để biết thêm thông tin, vui lòng liên hệ:
Bà Nguyễn Việt Hải, Vụ Bình đẳng giới, Bộ Lao động – Thương binh và Xã hội
Email: hainv@molisa.gov.vn - SĐT: 024-3825 2875
Bà Hoàng Bích Thảo | Cán bộ truyền thông của UN Women tại Việt Nam
Email: hoang.thao@unwomen.org | SĐT: 0705143996
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Press Release
12 August 2021
Virtual conference on the Final Review of the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011-2020 and Implementation of the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030
In 2019, following the direction of the Prime Minister, with technical and financial support from UN Women and the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam, MoLISA conducted a performance review of the NSGE 2011-2020 to serve as the basis for the formulation of the NSGE 2021-2030. The process of formulating and finalizing the draft NSGE 2021-2030 attracted engagement and comments from more than 500 participants representing a wide range of ministries, sectors, localities, United Nations agencies, social organizations, international NGOs and groups of people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, LGBT people, the youth among others. The development of the objectives and targets under the NSGE 2021-2030 was determined to be in alignment with the socio-economic development situation in the new period of the country, international economic integration towards the successful realization of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.
On March 3, 2021, the Government enacted Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP approving the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030 with the overall objective to “Continue to narrow gender gaps, create conditions, opporutnities for women and men to participate, equally enjoy achievement in all spheres of society and life, and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.” The NSGE encompasses 6 objectives and 20 specific targets in an effort to further narrow gender gaps in the following spheres: politics; economy, labour; family life and gender-based violence prevention and response; health; education, training; information, communications. In addition to several targets whose outcomes obtained from the previous period should be sustained, the NSGE 2021-2030 also includes novel targets such as: reducing the proportion of women workers in the agricultural sector; increasing the number of public social assistance establishments that carry out the activities to support, prevent and respond to gender-based violence; reducing adolescent birth rates; introducing health facilities providing pilot health care services for LGBT people; incorporating contents on gender and gender equality in the curricula of the national education system.
With a view to facilitating NSGE 2021-2030 execution, also within the framework of cooperation with UN Women and the Australian Embassy, MoLISA has developed a guide to data collection and reporting on the NSGE implementation results to aid key ministries, sectors and localities in the synchronous and consistent collection of data and reporting on the NSGE performance annually, towards ensuring the effective and timely monitoring and evaluation of NSGE performance.
In her remarks delivered at the workshop, H.E. Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, highlighted that, “Thanks to the efforts made by the whole political system, after 10-years of implementation of the NSGE, we have obtained numerous encouraging results, contributing to narrowing gender gaps in all spheres, thereby making positive contributions to the socio-economic development process of the country. These gains will be a solid foundation for all levels and sectors to sustain and advance further in materializing national objectives on gender equality in the upcoming period.”
As the United Nations agency providing technical assistance in the process of formulating the NSGE 2021-2030, Mrs. Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Representative of UN Women in Viet Nam highly valued Viet Nam's efforts and commitment to realizing the SDGs, including Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. She mentioned,: “The review on the NSGE implementation over the past 10 years has indicated the need to ensure financial resources for gender equality, especially through investment expenditure sourced from the state budget for adequate funding to realize the NSGE objectives. To do so, it is necessary to ensure that NSGE objectives will be properly mainstreamed in sectoral and local plans, as well as in national target programmes. Viet Nam is also advised to make targeted investments in changing social norms towards advancing gender equality, which has been the core element to promote gender equality experienced by a large number of countries worldwide and has also constitutes the very primary goal of NSGE 2021-2030.”
Her Excellency Robyn Mudie, the Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, congratulated the Government of Vietnam on the dissemination of the NSGE 2021-2030 saying, “It is an honour for Australia to have been invited by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to support Viet Nam’s National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2021-2030. There are opportunities and challenges for the advancement of women and girls in the coming decade, including on issues related to Viet Nam’s ageing population, Revolution 4.0 and the automation of jobs. The Strategy’s guidance and recommendations lay the foundations for strong policy approaches to these issues, while also supporting the critical role of women in the economy and women in leadership. As a longstanding partner on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, Australia is proud to give practical support to these efforts through our ongoing gender programs.”
At the workshop, leaders of the MoLISA and UN Women urged for more concerted efforts from various ministries, departments and sectors of the Government, social organizations, the private sector, and United Nations agencies in advancing gender equality, moving towards sustainable development by 2030, so that no one is left behind.
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For more information, please contact:
Ms. Nguyen Viet Hai, Gender Equality Department, MoLISA
Email: hainv@molisa.gov.vn - Tel: 024-3825 2875
Ms. Hoang Bich Thao | Communications Officer of UN Women in Viet Nam
Email: hoang.thao@unwomen.org | Tel: 0705143996
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Press Release
22 July 2021
IOM Launches Regional Project on Enhancing Protection of Migrant Workers in Asia Impacted by COVID-19
Ho Chi Minh City, 22 Jul 2021 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) today launched an 18-month regional multi-stakeholder project, funded by Sweden, to enhance protection of migrant workers in Asia impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The USD 3.2 million regional project will address challenges faced by migrant workers, while strengthening responses of policy makers, private sector and civil society to better protect and provide assistance to migrant workers during and post the pandemic.
Specifically, the project will focus on solutions to the key issues facing migrant workers in the COVID-19 response and recovery with collaboration from governments, private sector and civil society.
IOM, in partnership with Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA), will carry out a series of regional and country level interventions that will directly benefit 5,500 migrant workers from seven countries of origin in South and Southeast Asia – Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam – and at three countries of destination – Hong Kong SAR (China), Malaysia and Thailand.
IOM will also provide technical assistance to promote safe, orderly and regular labour migration processes and help improve access to effective remedies for migrant workers who experienced harm, during, and after COVID-19.
The project builds on IOM’s larger regional COVID-19 response outlined in IOM Strategic Response and Recovery Plan (SRRP) 2021 and is implemented as part of IOM regional Corporate Responsibility in Eliminating Slavery and Trafficking Project in Asia (CREST), supported by Sweden.
“Migrant workers are on the front line in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they face heightened discrimination and vulnerabilities due to mobility restrictions and the suspension of socio-economic activities,” said Mihyung Park, IOM Chief of Mission in Vietnam.
“To overcome this pandemic crisis, it is important that we do not leave migrants behind in the response and recovery plan. We welcome the support from Sweden and the collaboration with Migrant Forum in Asia and other stakeholders to ensure assistance and protection of migrant workers impacted by COVID-19. Together, we will lay the foundations for a more resilient and just recovery,” added Ms. Park.
William Gois, Director of the Migrant Forum Asia said, "We are in a moment in time where a partnership like this can be pivotal. So much of migration governance has proven to be fragile in this time of crisis. We need to build forward better, and this partnership could leverage that transformative change."
Åsa Heden, Head of Development Cooperation Section, Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok said, “Sweden is committed to the protection of human rights and gender equality. The impact of the Covid-19 has unfortunately aggravated the situation for migrant workers in the region. Through the collaboration with IOM and Migrant Forum Asia, the support would strengthen the protection of migrant workers’ rights and contribute to a just and resilient recovery for all."
The COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic fallout have exacerbated migrant workers’ vulnerability, especially for women. Migrant workers are found in greater risk of infection while lacking access to health care and other essential services. They also face rising xenophobia or being stranded in countries of origin and destination without work or social protection. However, migrant workers play an important role in recovery plans of many countries as essential workers and remittance providers.
CREST, which aims to enhance the protection of the human and labour rights of migrant workers in business operations and international labour supply chains, is built on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its central promise to ‘leave no one behind’.
For further information, please contact:
Anastasia VYNNYCHENKO, IOM Project Officer (CREST) at avynnychenko@iom.int or
Itayi VIRIRI, Sr Regional Media & Communications Officer at iviriri@iom.int
Anastasia VYNNYCHENKO, IOM Project Officer (CREST) at avynnychenko@iom.int or
Itayi VIRIRI, Sr Regional Media & Communications Officer at iviriri@iom.int
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