(VOVworld)- Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Hoang Thi Ai Nhien led a delegation to the 16th Congress of the Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) which was held in Bogota, Colombia last week.

The Vietnamese slogan at the congress was "equality, development and peace" (Photo: VWU)

Addressing the event, Nhien spoke highly of both the spiritual and material support that the federation had given to Vietnam during the war against the US invaders. She spoke about the achievements and difficulties that Vietnamese women are facing, including the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin sprayed during the war by the US army. Ms Nhien also spoke about the challenges to peace and stability in the East Sea. She affirmed that the Vietnam Women’s Union, as a responsible member of the federation, is willing to share its experience and foster connectivity with progressive women’s unions around the world. At the congress, the VWU donated 2,000 USD to the federation. The Vietnamese delegation also delivered a speech on climate change at the congress debate. Vietnam proposed that the congress issue a resolution supporting Vietnam’s Agent Orange/dioxin victims as well as peace, stability and conformity with international law in the East Sea. The proposals were later included in the congress’ resolution. The Vietnamese delegation also had meetings with their counterparts from the Philippines, Japan, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Cyprus. As part of the occasion, the VWU delegation also had working sessions with representatives from the Colombia President’s Office and Bogota city’s Secretariat of Women’s issues.