Progress of women’s empowerment and gender equality in Viet Nam through the lens of CEDAW

On 18 December 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981 after the twentieth country had ratified it. Among the international human rights treaties, the Convention takes an important place in bringing the female half of humanity into the focus of human rights concerns. The Convention establishes not only an international bill of rights for women, but also an agenda for action by countries to guarantee the enjoyment of those rights. Viet Nam was the 6th country in the world that joined CEDAW and has made significant efforts to implement its commitments to promote gender equality.

In order to promote gender equality to uphold CEDAW's principles as a State member, since 2004, UN Women with financial support of Canada Government, in collaboration with national partners, have implemented the project "Regional programme on improving human Women's Human Rights in Southeast Asia" (CEDAW SEAP). The program supported more than 2000 delegates from the government, parliamentarians, and leaders of ministries, policy makers, gender experts and civil society organizations to enhance their knowledge and understanding on gender and women's rights, so that laws and policies and their implementation are gender responsive, and women know and are able to claim their rights.

Opening the event, Mr.Nguyen Trong Dam, Vice Minister of MOLISA stressed "Viet Nam always commits to promote gender equality and women's human rights. This can be seen in revising laws and policies by internalizing CEDAW principles in the legislation and enforcement mechanisms."

Speaking at the dialogue, Ms. Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Country Representative said "the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the UN Member States last September provides us with an unprecedented opportunity for advancing gender equality, with the strong stand-alone Goal 5 and gender equality being mainstreamed throughout the other SDGs. Never before have we seen such strong global consensus at the highest level that gender equality is both an enabler and a precondition for sustainable development."

During the event participants shared their thoughts and experience in challenging gender inequality and empowering women in their respective capacities. Some major trends, gender gaps in the country for example persistent patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes, lack of sufficient information and data on all forms of violence against women, and limited understanding on the temporary special measures were also highlighted.

Closing the event, participants agreed that it is essential in giving women a voice, in channeling collective action and advocacy, and in demanding gender-responsive action. The government and different stakeholders remain committed to working together to make gender equality a reality.