(VOVworld) – Topics for discussion at the 132^nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU 132) in Hanoi will include gender equality. Vietnam, the host country, gives strong support to IPU activities promoting the role and rights of women. Vietnam has basically achieved the UN Millennium Development goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women. Minh Cham reports:

Because of the influence of Confucianism, it was difficult to narrow the gender gap in Vietnam. The 12^th National Assembly established Vietnam’s first female parliamentarian group in May, 2008, with the aim of promoting gender equality. The group has been a forum for female parliamentarians to share information and voice their opinions on policies concerning women, children, and gender equality. A number of policies have been adopted in consideration of gender equality such as increasing maternity leave from 4 to 6 months and giving men paternity leave. Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, a deputy from Ho Chi Minh city, said: “Many female deputies have spoken of the aspirations of female voters. Their ideas have contributed significantly to many important decisions of the National Assembly.”

Vietnamese female parliamentarians have been actively involved in regional and global activities to promote gender equality, such as the annual conferences of female parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Truong Thi Mai, Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, said: “Topics for discussion and recommendations at these forums have targeted sustainable growth, human rights, equal opportunities for women and girls, and empowering women to participate in all aspects of life. Vietnam’s participation at these forums has aimed at enhancing the role of women in parliaments and international organizations and promoting cooperation among female parliamentarians.”

Vietnam is one of the 5 developing nations in Asia with the highest proportion of female parliamentarians. Its National Assembly has made significant contributions to promoting gender equality. At a recent meeting with female leaders of Vietnamese and foreign organizations attending IPU 132, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said gender equality has been included in Vietnam’s constitution, law, and policies. He added that an increasing number of women have assumed important positions in the Party, State, and National Assembly: “After many years of struggling for national independence, more than any one, Vietnamese people are as aware as anyone that gender equality is one of the most important measure of a nation’s development. Vietnam supports every effort to build an equal society for all.”

A number of workshops on gender equality will be held on the sidelines of IPU 132 including "Achieving the vision of Beijing: The views of men" and "Consultation on the updated Global Strategy for women's, children's and adolescents' health", as well as a ceremony to mark the 30^th anniversary of the Meeting of Women Parliamentarians.