UNDP Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen (Photo: UNDP)
Hanoi (VNA) – The United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is looking forward to continuing to work
with Vietnam’s National Assembly towards closing the gender gap, both
qualitatively and quantitatively, UNDP Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen
noted.
The effort not only aims to get more women
in elected positions, but also supports them to be effective when they get
elected, she added.
Wiesen made the pledge on February 4 while
addressing the launch of the research findings of a study titled “Roles of
Women Representatives in Vietnam’s Development during the 2016-2021 Term” held by
the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) under Vietnam National
University-Hanoi and the UNDP.
“Women’s equal representation in leadership
and decision-making at all levels, in both public and private sectors, is
essential for realising Vietnam’s socio-economic development vision and key to
equitable development that leaves no one behind,” she said.
The study showed that during the 2016-2021
term, the NA has its first female chairperson and 26.7 percent female
representation.
UNDP’s global Human Development Report 2020
ranked Vietnam 65th out of 162 countries and among the top one-third of
countries globally for women’s share of seats in parliament.
The study provides empirical evidence of
how women have contributed socially, economically and politically to the
country’s progress over the past five years. This is an important foundation
for society and voters to have stronger confidence in women candidates in the
upcoming National Elections.
It also recommends creating favourable
conditions for NA delegates of all genders to proactively engage with voters
via all channels, making use of social networking channels; and giving women
delegates equal representation in all fields by promoting gender parity in all committees
of the legislative body.
There is no
significant difference between women and men delegates in the amount of time
they spend on performing their delegates’ roles and mandates nor in the
response rates in handling petitions and proposals from voters during this term,
the study found.
For her part, Deputy
Head of Mission/Head of Development, the Embassy of Ireland Elisa Cavacece said
that the Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index
(PAPI) has been a powerful tool for the Vietnamese Government to capture
feedback on how policy and public services have been delivered and benefited
its citizens.
The soft launch
of the research findings is a useful platform for the Embassy of Ireland to
support and engage, in order to promote gender equality and women’s
empowerment, she added.
The study was
carried out with funding from the Australian Government’s Department for
Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Irish Embassy Vietnam and UNDP Vietnam,
through the Provincial Governance and PAPI research framework./.