The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women praised Vietnam for adopting new legal documents to eliminate discrimination against women and promote gender equality at a workshop in Hanoi on March 5.
The committee acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in endorsing the Law on Gender Equality and the national strategy on the advancement of women in 2001-2010 as well as revising the Land Law and the Marriage and Family Law.
Speaking at the workshop, Tran Thi Quoc Khanh, head of the Policy and Law Department under the Vietnam Women’s Union, said Vietnam has made remarkable progress in implementing and promoting gender equality. She said though the number of women joining socio-political and economic organisations is increasing, Vietnam should pay more attention to helping women exercise their rights and fight against family violence.
Vuong Thi Hanh, a representative of the gender and community development network (GenComNet) shared Ms Khanh’s view and pointed out that it is difficult to prevent family violence as the concept of husbands having the right to teach their wives at home still exists in society. In addition, she said, women are not well aware of their rights in family and sometimes have to reconcile themselves to their husbands’ unfair treatment.
The committee put forward 30 recommendations to help Vietnam carry out the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). They include preventing human trafficking and helping women and female children who are victims of labour exploitation and human trafficking integrate well into the community. The committee also suggested that Vietnam pay more attention to perfecting the legal, communications and education systems.
Delegates highlighted the important role of the press in disseminating information about the Convention and relevant issues among the public. They said that recommendations will help boost cooperation among concerned parties in promoting gender equality and women’s fundamental rights. 
