Gender equality, plastic waste management under discussion
VOV.VN - A workshop on gender equality and comprehensive development in plastic waste management was jointly held on August 29 in Hanoi by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU), the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
The event aims to share the results of the gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) assessment report in the plastic value chain in Vietnam conducted by the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) programme.
It also seeks to raise awareness of national partners and stakeholders in terms of promoting gender equality and comprehensive development in plastic waste management.
As part of her address, Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, head of the VWU Central Committee’s Department of Information and Education, said plastic pollution has become a major global challenge, including Vietnam. According to statistics, around 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are released into the environment each year.
The sorting, collection, recycling, and disposal of plastic waste remains limited, with up to 90% of the plastic waste being disposed of through landfill and incineration, and only 10% recycled. Moreover, 90% of waste collectors and scavengers are women, exposing them to a hazardous environment impacting their health.
Patrick Haverman, deputy resident representative of UNDP Vietnam, said policymakers must look into additional research, data, and evidence on issues related to plastics, gender, and social inclusion in order to avoid any negative impacts on women, migrant labourers, and other vulnerable groups during the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies.
Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil said Canadian-funded programmes and projects focus on supporting women's rights and livelihoods, with the ultimate aim of contributing to efforts in transitioning toward a more sustainable and circular plastic economy.
The event served to underscore the need to integrate gender equality and comprehensive development issues into the shared action plan proposed by the VWU Central Committee, the Embassy of Canada, the UNDP Vietnam, and other active members of the NPAP network.
A host off ideas and solutions which seek to steer Vietnam towards a sustainable and comprehensive plastic circular economy that benefits everyone was also touched upon.
