(VOVworld)- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the UN, and Hanoi’s People’s Committee have launched an Action Month for Gender Equality and Prevention of Gender-based Violence. The event is part of Vietnam’s efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Under the theme “Joining hands to eliminate violence against women and girls”, the event, the first of its kind in Vietnam, intends to mobilize the participation of agencies, organizations and the public, especially men in promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and children.

The one-month event starting November 15 consists of a series of activities including policy dialogues with young people; workshops; a football festival day; concerts; Howabnormal events to break gender stereotypes; bus trips; "No more" week – to end sexual violence and training for bus drivers to provide them with knowledge and skills on Gender equality....The action month is the first milestone in the National Communications Campaign on gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence.

Vietnam has fine-tuned the legal framework and regulations on gender equality. Vietnam has 3 female members in its 19-member Politburo and one of them holds the position of National Assembly Chairwoman. 26.8% of the 14^th National Assembly deputies are female. Vietnam ranks 60^th out of 193 countries and 4^th out of 11 ASEAN countries in the number of female parliamentarians. Female workers account for 48.3% of the total workforce. The rate of businesswomen is 24.9%.  More than 96% of Vietnamese women between 15 and 24 are literate. Vietnam is one of countries that are fastest in eradicating gender gap over the past 20 years.