Assoc. Prof. Dr. TRAN Quang Tien – President of Vietnam Women’s Academy – speaking at the seminar.

At the seminar, there were 15 opinions discussing the methods of operating Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) at all levels and at Ha Tinh Women’s Union (WU) (provincial level) over the past 40 years. The seminar has addressed the role of the WUs in summarizing practices, advising and proposing mechanisms and policies to support women’s comprehensive development, has launched and implemented emulation movements and campaigns with many innovations in leadership and direction, going into depth, building happy families, and has built a team of increasingly young and professional WU officials – a source of quality female officials for the Party, which makes positive contributions to promoting gender equality in the locality and the country over the past 40 years.

Delegates discussed improving the content and form of local association activities.

At the same time, the discussions also pointed out some shortcomings in the implementation of innovation in the methods of operating WUs at all levels. Especially, the application of Information Technology in the management, operation and implementation of the WUs’ activities, the improvement of the content and form of the WUs’ activities, and the capacity to monitor, summarize practices, propose policies, and support women’s integration of the WUs’ officials – especially grassroots officials, all of which still face many difficulties. Some movements have not been directed strongly, some models are not clear, the emulation and reward work is not really commensurate with the contributions of the the WUs’ officials. The rate of women filing for divorce and labor export is increasing; gender prejudice still exists. The rate of women participating in politics has not met the prescribed targets…

To contribute to improving the quality of activities, affirming the role and position of the WUs, and being ready to enter a new era – the era of national rise, the delegates proposed that the Central Committee of Vietnam Women’s Union in the coming time should focus on the following specific solutions: (1) Paying attention to proposing the Government to approve policies to support women, children, and gender equality, (2) Researching and advise on laws related to women, (3) Paying attention to mobilizing resources, seeking the direction and support of Party committees and authorities in the activities of the Union, (4) Setting out key tasks suitable for each period, and (5) Researching and developing models to attract and gather members, to innovate the content of activities, and to determine the rate of membership.