FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Name: Nguyen Thi Nga
Nguyen Thi Hoang BichViet Nam
MOLISA & VWU

1.Country Overview-The socialist republic of Viet Nam-Capital: Hanoi/ population: 90 million (2013)-Major language: Vietnamese-Monetary: Viet Nam Dong-Location: in South East Asia, share border with China, Lao,Cambodia.
-Weather: Vietnam lies entirely within the tropics-People: there are up to 54 diffirent ethnic groups inhabiting in Viet Nam (Kinh: 86% and ethnic minority
groups: 14%)2

2. Gender Equality Policy• Governmental managing gender equality: Genderequality Department - Molisa• 2013 Constitution• Gender Equality Law (2006): to stipulate genderequality in all aspects of life
• Marriage and Family Law (2007)• National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011-2020
mentions some national targets in terms of genderequality in Viet Nam by 20203

2. Cont.
• National Program on Gender Equality 2011-2015
Build some projects and models to promote gender equality
in many fields: employment, politic, economy, etc,…
• Resolution 11-NQ/TW of the Political Bureau of theCommunist Party of Vietnam dated 27/4/2007 on the Workfor Women in the Period of Accelerating Industrializationand Modernization• The Decree No. 56/2012/ND-CP, prescribing
responsibilities of ministries, sectors and People'sCommittees at all levels for ensuring the participation in thestate management by the Vietnam Women's Union at alllevels
4Vietnam Women’s Union• A political – social organization• Founded in 1930
• Members: over 15 million• Operating through out Vietnam at: central,provincial, district and commune• Mandated to take care women rights andpromote gender equality• VWU’s mission is to take care women’sspirits and promote equality for women

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in thecounty(statistics and salient features)

Labour force

The trend of GII in VietNam
Source: UNDP

Women (%)

Men (%)

Literacy

92.2

96.2

Secondaryschool

24.7

28

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Cont.
General statistics on women in Vietnam:
Female population
Women in leadership
National Assembly (2011-2016)
Provincial Peoples Council (2011-2016)
District People Council (2011-2016)
Communal People Council (2011-2016)50.52%
24.4%
25.2%
24.6%
21.7%

Female entrepreneurs
25%
Processing industry, manufacturing 52.3%
Finance, banking and insurance
52.9%
Science and technology
30.8% 7ContTotalOf which
Rural area

Urban area

2007

111.6

112.7

111.3

2008

112.1

114.2

111.4

2009

110.5

110.6

110.5

2010

111.2

108.9

112.0

Gender rate of newly born babies(boys/100 girls)
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4. Overview of ICTs・Media and Gender inthe country

Densities of selected ICT equipments in Viet Nam,

Number of employees in computers, Population
Census 2002-

The perentage of female workers in the telecommunication sector is increasing with their improved capacity andqualification: women account for 42% labor force in this sector with 38,7% having university and other higher
education qualifications ( Vietnam post and telecomunication – VNPT 2012)
Women engaged in IT teaching at universities is on the increase: female lecturers account for 26% IT lecturers
The percentage of urban women having access to mass media is higher than that of rural women: 38.3% of urban
women access to 3 basic type of meida, whereas 15.5 of rural women do so9VWU WITH ICT• Vietnamese and English website• Open several training courses oncomputer• Provide women access to computer• Provide computers to women• E-management of credit program• Starting e-business transaction

The number of internet users, mobile cellular subscriptions
and fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 20092012
In 2012, Vietnam ranked 83th among
190 countries in the world and 4th in
the SEA in terms of e-government
development index by UnitedNations.
In terms of communication andinformation technology development,
in 2012, Vietnam ranked 81th among
155 countries in the world in a studyby ITU.
Vietnam is also categorized as one of
the top ten countries most dynamic in
IT development by ITU.
Source: MIC

11MIC (2013) Information Technology Application Report 2012

5. Case Analysis• In 2010, MOLISA and MOGEF, The republic of Korea
organized a training workshop “Women and friendly
environment to access internet and media” at national levelfor Board of Advancement of women in provinces andministries:+ Raise awareness on the important of ICT for women+Call for attention on women and ICT• MOLISA, Youth Union and MOST organize a annual
ceremony for the “Award for outstanding female students inIT”

126. Best Practices : How to make media
gender-responsive and to enhance inclusionof women and girls in information society- Raising awareness of people in charge of managing ICT
about gender equality- Increasing number of media agencies to create
opportunities for women to participate and broadcasting
positive image of women- Having incentives for girls to study in ICT sectors- Having a training class for women to guide women to use
computer, access to internet, etc, especially for rural
women and women ethnic minorities- Gender mainstreaming in making ICT policies, programs,
strategies, etc.,…
- Proper punishment for any kinds of action to prohibit
women and girls access to ICT sectors
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7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in
the media-The percentage of women in leadership positions in theinformation and culture sector remains low
Women have less access to IT than men, due in part to thelack of time, burdens of work within the family andlimited education levels
There are still negatives images of women including
gender steretypes in various forms of media using modern
communication technologyThere has not yet been a large-scale study on images ofwomen and gender equality in the media in Viet Nam

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8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
1. Women should be engaged in ICTs sectors: in ICT labor
force; access to media,…
2. Media is crucial tool to change awareness of people in termof gender equality. So, advertisement on internet or ontelevision and other medias should be evaluated under
gender lens before releasing
3. The Government’s investment in IT infrastructure has
assisted women in improving their access to IT.
4. ICT Legal system should be gender sensitive mainstreaming
to meet needs of women.
5. Developing budget for ICT and women’s empowerment.
6. Networking ICT institutes/organizations in the region.
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