Vietnam encourages women’s stronger role in ASEAN affairs
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, while addressing the Third ASEAN Women Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane on August 22, underscored the importance of encouraging women to get much involved in society to eliminate social prejudice against women and promote gender equality.
In his speech, Chinh highlighted women’s role in various spheres of society, suggesting that ASEAN countries increase awareness and thinking about women’s role, and introduce policies to encourage their equal participation in all fields, where women are not only empowered but also fully equipped with skills and knowledge to effectively contribute to the care and self-reliant economy of ASEAN.
It’s imperative to strengthen innovation, improve infrastructure, build a system of public health care and health services that are high quality, accessible and affordable, especially in poor, remote and isolated areas, he said while attending the hybrid summit from Hanoi.
He called on ASEAN countries to continue to improve institutions and policies, and integrate women-related affairs into socio-economic development plans, to promote gender equality while adapting to rapid population aging as well as climate change.
The Vietnamese PM stressed the need to increase investment in human resource training and vocational training for workers. He said ASEAN countries should increase the mobilization of resources from the whole society by attracting private investment and considering private investment as an important factor in efforts to develop the care economy.
He also proposed that ASEAN countries strengthen cooperation to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers, and prevent abuse, exploitation, discrimination and illegal activities, as well as transnational crimes such as cross-border human trafficking.
Taking the floor in Vientiane, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha, briefed the summit about the actual state of the care economy in Vietnam, challenges of social prejudice against women’s role, limitations in care service providers, especially in rural and remote areas, and limitations in social security coverage for care workers, leading to gender and income inequality.
She also proposed recommendations to spur the development of the care economy and enhance the role of women in society.
Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone highly appreciated Vietnam’s proposals and sharing at the summit. By the way, he respectfully invited Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to visit Laos and attend the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meeting in Vientiane this October.
