WOMEN IN VIET NAM

Viet Nam has always placed a strong emphasis on gender equality. This has resulted in important achievements such as low maternal mortality and high access to education. Indeed, Vietnamese women have one of the highest labour force participation rates in the world. On most gender indicators Viet Nam compares positively in international rankings, especially compared to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

WAY FORWARD

There are four broad areas where improvement could lead to significant increases in women’s representation in Viet Nam. First, raising public awareness of the benefits of electing women to counteract social stereotypes held by both men and women. Second, enhancing accountability and oversight mechanisms to ensure implementation of the national gender policies. Third, promoting more women to senior positions from which electoral candidates are drawn and fourth, ending official age discrimination for women and providing both men and women more choice in deciding their age of retirement within a specified range.

Together, implementation of these recommendations would have an immediate effect on reversing the current downward trend and ensuring that Viet Nam emerges once again as a global leader on women’s leadership and representation.

Full text of Policy brief - Women’s Representation in the National Assembly of Viet Nam: policybriefonwomaninnà0140915en.pdf