Meeting between H.E. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Vietnamese & International Female Diplomats

• Excellency Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam;
• Excellencies Ambassadors;
• Vietnamese and International Female Diplomats, Colleagues

Xin chào and a good evening.

Since 2022, on the 24th of June, we commemorate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. The establishment of this International Day by the UN General Assembly serves as a reminder of the achievements and the challenges in ensuring gender parity in diplomatic roles worldwide.

Historically, the representation of women in diplomacy has been minimal. Only four of the 850 delegates who signed the UN Charter in 1945 were women. Since then, women’s representation in bilateral diplomacy and at the United Nations has increased. But progress has been slow. International decision-making spaces often lack women’s presence and structural barriers remain. 

One of the United Nations’ greatest achievements was the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, spearheaded by a woman – Ms Eleanor Roosevelt. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognized the equal rights of men and women as fundamental human rights. 

Women’s engagement in peace processes in Liberia and Ireland are just two examples of women’s fundamental roles in achieving durable success.

Despite this, diplomacy remains male-dominated, with women serving as Heads of State and Government in only 28 countries. At the ministerial level, women hold just some 25% of foreign affairs portfolios. 

Viet Nam’s pioneering legacy in women in diplomacy is embodied by Madam Nguyen Thi Binh, the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and who served in this capacity from 1969 to 1976. In 1973, Madam Binh signed the Paris Peace Accords to end the war and restore peace in Viet Nam. 

Although there has been no woman Foreign Minister appointed since then, Viet Nam has had three female Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang (appointed in October 2023), Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang (December 2022) and Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga (2011). 

Over the past eight decades, women in Viet Nam have significantly contributed in various positions and sectors to the nation’s rise as a beacon of peace and progress[1].

While each country context may be different, balanced political participation and power-sharing between women and men in decision-making is the internationally agreed target set in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as SDG 5. While no country has achieved gender equality, being intentional about achieving parity and promoting women’s leadership has worked well. Setting quotas makes a difference. In countries with legislated quotas, women’s representation is 5% and 7% higher in parliaments and local government, respectively, compared to countries without.

In just over a decade, Viet Nam has improved its global ranking on gender equality. Such progress has been achieved through bold actions such as adopting laws, directives, national target programmes and leadership drive for gender equality.

The UN itself has struggled with gender parity. However, significant progress has been made under the leadership of the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In 2020, gender parity was achieved among senior leaders of the UN. Nevertheless, we are yet to see a female Secretary General of the United Nations and women are still underrepresented in UN missions and peacekeeping operations where diversity is crucial.

Viet Nam is one of the few nations exceeding UN benchmarks for female participation in peacekeeping: about 16% of individually deployed peacekeepers from Viet Nam are military women and more than 30% of policewomen, higher than the UN average[2]. These efforts underscore Viet Nam’s commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Also on the global stage, Viet Nam has promoted the gender parity agenda in its role as a Human Rights Council member. Viet Nam is now a member of UN Women’s Executive Board. Recently in New York, the Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, Madam Nguyen Thi Thanh, actively contributed to the 69th Commission on the Status of Women, highlighting the importance of women’s equal participation across all sectors, including STEM.

These contributions highlight not only the vital role of women in diplomacy, but also the critical importance of advancing gender equality and women’s rights through multilateral engagement — a cause to which Viet Nam has consistently demonstrated strong commitment. 

Strong commitment abroad must be rooted in strong commitment at home, to advance women’s leadership, especially, in governance. 

In this regard too, Viet Nam has shown great commitment. Currently, more than 30% of Viet Nam’s National Assembly is comprised of women; a percentage higher than most regional peers. 

However, as Viet Nam undergoes one of its most historic administrative reforms, it is essential to ensure that women have an equal opportunity to participate in the restructured government system. 

With a more streamlined civil service, the dissolution of district-level organs, and the merger of several provinces, Viet Nam must remain vigilant to ensure that the progress made in women’s participation in governance is not rolled back.

This will be particularly important in the upcoming general election, scheduled for 15 March 2026 — a timely opportunity for Viet Nam to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring women’s equal participation at all levels of decision-making.

We hope to see more women elected to representative bodies and appointed to key leadership positions across the newly established 34 provinces. Such leadership at home can be reflected in Viet Nam’s growing diplomatic leadership on the global stage.

Women’s equal participation at all decision-making levels is key to unlock the transformational changes needed for a sustainable future. 

When full representation is achieved, we will be closer to an inclusive, just, and prosperous society reflecting our shared Sustainable Development Goals. Xin Cam on! 

[1] Extraordinary "female warriors" in the diplomatic sector

[2] EXPLAINER: Việt Nam’s growing role in UN peacekeeping missions