Measures to reduce gender imbalance
A project has recently been proposed for the 2013-2020 period with various policies, including supporting families with only daughters, as part of efforts to reduce gender imbalance in Vietnam.
They include solutions to educate people and reduce male chauvinism, stop parents choosing the gender of their baby and give extra support to couples only having daughters.
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Accordingly, couples that have only daughters will receive financial support. As the children mature they will enjoy preferential health insurance and education fees, better training and job opportunities, and special access to bank loans.
In Vietnam, 1.4 to 1.5 million children are born every year. The country’s gender ratio at birth remains high, at 112.3 boys per 100 girls due to old beliefs of having at least a son. If the situation is not improved, Vietnam is likely to lack 2.3 to 4.3 million women by 2050.
A falling female population could result in a marriage crisis, and lead to more victims of trafficking, prostitution and higher numbers of overseas brides.
Nguyen Van Tan, Deputy Head of the General Office for Population and Family Planning, concerned that the project could be more effective in rural and poor areas than in cities and other polices need to be designed for urban families.
To resolve the problem, Tan said, the efforts of not only the Population and Family Planning Department but the entire political system are needed.
It is necessary to launch a mass movement to promote the value of gender equality and reduce gender imbalance, he added.