Guidelines for implementing gender equality work in Vietnam in 2024

Guidelines for implementing gender equality work in Vietnam in 2024 (Internet image) 

Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to answer as follows: 

On March 29, 2024, the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs issued Official Dispatch 1303/ML-IAS-SOCIAL guiding the implementation of gender equality work in 2024.

Guidelines for implementing gender equality work in Vietnam in 2024

In order to effectively implement the legal provisions on gender equality, the national gender equality goals, and the main tasks and solutions for implementing gender equality work mentioned in Resolution 01/NQ-CP dated January 5, 2024, by the Government on tasks and solutions for socio-economic development, state budget estimates in 2024, the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs proposes that ministries, equivalent agencies, central agencies of organizations, provincial People's Committees, and centrally-run cities (hereinafter referred to as ministries, agencies, localities) based on their functions, tasks, authorities, and practical conditions at the local level, focus on implementing some key tasks in 2024 as follows:

(1) Organize the implementation and enforcement of the Law on Gender Equality and legislative documents guiding the implementation of the Law. Strictly comply with the provisions on the responsibilities of ministries, agencies, and localities in state management of gender equality; coordinate the implementation of state management of gender equality and measures to ensure gender equality.

(2) Continue to review and improve the system of policies and laws ensuring gender equality in various areas of socio-economic life. Incorporate gender in the development of legal documents, strategies, programs, projects, and socio-economic development plans of ministries, agencies, and localities.

(3) Implement the National Gender Equality Strategy for the 2021–2030 period.

In parallel with the implementation of general tasks and solutions in the Strategy, ministries, agencies, and localities should focus on implementing specific tasks: Ministries assigned specific responsibilities in the Strategy should proactively organize the implementation of the assigned contents, monitor, compile statistics, report on the indicators and targets that their agencies are in charge of, forecast the possibility of achieving the set targets, and promptly issue appropriate measures for implementation. Based on the Plan for implementing the Strategy issued in the proactive review phase, the provinces and centrally-run cities should review and compile the indicators and targets set by the locality to develop appropriate implementation measures and achieve the set objectives. Focus on implementing measures to achieve some targets and indicators that still have a large gap compared to the set targets by 2025.

(4) Organize the implementation of programs and projects to promote gender equality and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

- Communication program on gender equality until 2030

Based on the guidance documents of the Ministry of Labor - Invalids, and Social Affairs on implementing communication work until 2030, the plan for implementing the program, and the practical conditions of the locality and agency, ministries, agencies, and localities should effectively implement the following:

+ Communicate the Party and State's policies and laws on gender equality, for the progress of women, and for the prevention and response to gender-based violence. Diversify communication methods: direct communication; broadcasting and television propaganda; information systems at the commune, ward, and town levels; electronic information websites, online newspapers, and social networks; posters and billboards. Enhance digitalization in communication through social networks to reach more people, especially youth, students, to promote gender equality, prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and empower women and girls.

+ Develop plans and organize the implementation of the Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in 2024 that are practical, effective, creative, and suitable for the specific conditions and situations of ministries, agencies, and localities.

- Program for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in the 2021–2025 period

Continue to build and expand effective models for prevention and response to gender-based violence that are suitable for the local conditions; review public social support facilities at the local level to guide and instruct the provision of support services for victims of gender-based violence; research and establish the Action Partner Network for the prevention and response to gender-based violence to create conditions for the development of inter-agency coordination mechanisms in the prevention and response to gender-based violence at the local level; develop communication materials, training, and organize training courses to enhance knowledge, expertise, and skills for state management officials and service providers in the prevention and response to gender-based violence; strengthen inter-agency coordination during the implementation of the Program.

- Implementing and carrying out tasks related to gender equality in strategies, programs, and projects as assigned, including the Program to Enhance Women's Participation in Leadership and Management Positions in Policy Development at all levels from 2021 to 2030; the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction from 2021 to 2025; the National Target Program for New Rural Development from 2021 to 2025; the National Target Program for Economic and Social Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas from 2021 to 2025; the National Action Program on Women, Peace, and Security from 2024 to 2030; Decision 4247/QD-BGDDT dated December 12, 2023, approving the Plan to incorporate gender-related teaching content into the training curriculum for preschool education and university-level teaching degrees from 2024 to 2030; the Program on Family Violence Prevention and Control in the new context until 2025; strengthening the application of information technology and digital transformation in gender equality communication and statistics, prevention and response to gender-based violence.

(5) Enhance the capacity and efficiency of state management in gender equality

- Strengthening the responsibility of state management agencies for gender equality; enhancing the role and responsibility of party committees and authorities at all levels in directing and implementing the Party's guidelines, laws, and state policies on gender equality. Based on the conditions and characteristics of each locality, establish mechanisms and policies to mobilize human resources and funding to ensure the implementation of gender equality work at the local level. Promoting socialization and mobilizing legitimate resources from domestic and international agencies, organizations, and individuals to enhance the sustainability and effectiveness of gender equality work. Emphasizing inter-sectoral coordination between state management agencies and political-social organizations in building, implementing, inspecting, examining, and supervising the implementation of laws and policies on gender equality.

- Organizing training courses on integrating gender skills into the development of legal documents, strategies, programs, projects, etc., for officials responsible for legal and policy development work. Providing gender knowledge training for inspection, judicial, and officials responsible for gender equality work and members of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in ministries, sectors, and localities.

- Organizing training courses for provincial-level gender resource trainers to proactively carry out capacity building and enhancement for officials engaged in gender equality work and prevention and response to gender-based violence in accordance with local requirements.

- Strengthening inspections, examinations, and strict handling of violations of gender equality; promptly verifying and reporting issues and incidents related to gender equality work and gender-based violence to competent state agencies for coordinated resolution.

- Encouraging pilot projects and models to promote gender equality and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

- Continuing to implement data collection indicators and reporting according to Circular 10/2019/TT-BKHDT dated July 30, 2019, of the Minister of Planning and Investment, regulating the indicators for national gender development statistics; providing guidance on data collection and reporting on the results of implementing the National Gender Equality Strategy from 2021 to 2030.

Strictly implementing the information and reporting regime on gender equality work, ensuring the content follows the outline, appendices, and reporting deadlines as required (attached outlines and appendices).

- Timely praising and commending individuals and units with outstanding achievements in gender equality work and prevention and response to gender-based violence.

(6) Promote international cooperation in gender equality implementation

- Actively studying international activities and models on gender equality, prevention, and response to gender-based violence, and flexibly and effectively applying them to the context and conditions of ministries, sectors, and localities.

- Proactively and actively mobilizing technical support and sustainable legal resources from international partners in gender equality work and prevention and response to gender-based violence.

Nguyen Ngoc Que Anh

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