An inter-agency delegation led by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha presented Vietnam’s ninth national report on the implementation of the convention at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

Ha affirmed that Vietnam regards gender equality as a consistent and long-term development goal, embedded across its legal and policy system to ensure women’s equal rights in political, economic, cultural and social spheres.

She cited recent legislation including the 2019 Labour Code, the 2024 Social Insurance Law, the 2024 Land Law and the 2022 Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence, which adopts a survivor-centred approach, particularly benefiting women and girls.

Vietnam has also expanded access to free legal assistance for disadvantaged women under the 2017 Law on Legal Aid, including poor households, ethnic minority women in extremely difficult areas, and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking.

Beyond social policies, gender mainstreaming has been extended to economic governance through the 2025 State Budget Law, which requires gender-responsive budgeting, and the Law on Support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, which prioritises women-led businesses.

According to the female official, Vietnam’s efforts have produced measurable results, with the country ranking 74th out of 148 economies in the 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, up nine places from 2022. Vietnam is currently serving as a member of the Executive Board of UN Women for the 2025–2027 term.

Ha said the dialogue coincided with a historic moment following Vietnam’s successful organisation of the 14th National Party Congress, whose documents serve as a strategic blueprint for a new development phase centred on prosperity alongside social justice and progress. Notably, the documents reaffirmed commitments to developing female human resources and increasing women’s representation in leadership at all levels.

She took note of concerns and recommendations from the CEDAW Committee, including gender stereotypes, sex ratio imbalance at birth and the rights of vulnerable women in the digital era.

Following the dialogue, she said, Vietnam would report outcomes to the government, develop a national action plan with adequate resources and continue refining gender-sensitive legislation.

Vietnam is committed to building a prosperous, democratic and equitable society in which all women can fully realise their potential and contribute to sustainable national development, the official affirmed.

The UN CEDAW Committee is set to review Vietnam, Iraq, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Argentina, the Czech Republic, El Salvador, and Lesotho during its current session from February 2 to 20, 2026.

Vietnam proposes gender equality, women’s empowerment initiatives at Beijing meeting

VOV.VN - Addressing the 2025 Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on October 13, a Vietnamese official highlighted the country’s achievements and putting forward concrete proposals to promote gender equality and empower women in the context of rapid global changes.