Press Release

"Stepping Forward: Men Commit to Gender Equality"

20 October 2015

Ha Noi, 20th October 2015 – UN Women in collaboration with Viet Nam Communist Youth Union, National Volunteer Center (VVC) organized an event "Stepping Forward: Men commit to Gender Equality" in commemoration of Viet Nam Women's Day 2015. The event bought together over 1,000 participants, including high-level male leaders from Ministry of Labour-Invalid and Social Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Chair of Party Committee on People's Mobilization, other ministries, ambassadors, the UN in Viet Nam, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, the media and students who pledged to support effort toward substantive gender equality in Viet Nam.

The program highlighted the importance of gender equality for the sustainable development of all individuals in society and the participation of men and boys to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. This is an activity of HeForShe Campaign, a global solidarity movement for gender equality to engage government, enterprises, universities and ordinary citizens as agents of change for the achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment. In commemoration of International Women's Day 2015, on March 6th, Viet Nam Central Youth Federation, Viet Nam Volunteer Center in collaboration with UN Women launched HeForShe Campaign in Viet Nam. Since then, it has received vigorous support from leaders, ambassadors, public figures and reached more than 750.000 people in Viet Nam.

In her opening remark, Ms. Shoko Ishikawa, UN Women Representative in Viet Nam said: "HeForShe invites all men and boys to stand up for the rights of women because gender equality is not just a women's issue but it's an issue that affects everyone. We are so delighted that the President Truong Tan Sang has named himself a HeForShe Champion. We are greatly encouraged by his strong statement at the United Nations last month pledging that the government of Viet Nam will devote all resources needed to bridge the gender gap in all domain."

At the event, a number of Vietnamese youth shared ideas, practical initiatives to contribute to promoting equality and eliminating all discrimination against women and girls. UN Women and the Viet Nam Volunteer Center also announced the results and awarded prizes of the HeForShe photo and video contest and announced the official song of HeForShe campaign in Viet Nam "For your smiles" by singer and songwriter Hoang Bach, HeForShe Celebrity Champion.