​
The conference for voters was held in Nhon Trach district

According to the representatives of the leaders of the People’s Committee of Nhon Trach district, the Party and the State have paid a great attention to gender equality. The gender equality in the field of politics is considered as one of the key contents, which has brought women opportunities to speak for their gender, promote their ability and experience, and present their perspectives on various decisions at both local and national levels and geographical level. These policies have contributed to creating a solid foundation for promoting the national strategy of gender equality in all the areas of social life. This is manifested through numerous policies of the Party as well as the State’s regulations, laws and policies.

In particular, the highlight is the Resolution no. 11 of the Politburo on women’s affairs in the period of industrialization and modernization in 2007 with the goal of “Developing and performing the training program for the female officials in each field associated with planning. It is necessary to ensure that the rate of women taking training courses at the schools of political theory and state administrative management is 30% or higher. Selecting, recruiting and training female officials among ethnic minority groups and religions are now too low. It is essential to teach informatics to all the female officials at all levels; strive for over 25% of female officials to attend levels of Party committees by 2020 and for 35% to 40% of female officials to attend levels of People’s Councils.

The agencies and units with above 30% of females must necessarily have the key officials and leaders that are female. Also, the high-level leadership agencies of the Party, National Assembly, the State, and the government must have a percentage of women in line with gender equality aims.

In addition, the government has issued Decision no. 2531 approving of the national strategy on gender equality in the period of 2011-2020 with the overall objective of “Striving to basically ensure the real equality between men and women in terms of opportunities, participation and enjoyment in the fields of politics, economics, culture and society to contribute to the country’s rapid and sustainable development by 2020 as well as issuing a plan to implement the project of strengthening the Party’s leadership over gender equality and the progress of women in the new situation’. The objective is to ensure gender equality through the implementation of some solutions to contribute to promoting women’s status and reducing gender gaps in a number of areas, sectors, regions and localities with gender inequality or at high risk of gender inequality.

In order to effectively implement the above guidelines and policies, in recent years the district’s Party Committee and People’s Committee have designed a lot of practical and specific programs and action plans. Up to now, almost all levels of Party committees and heads of agencies and units in the district are fully aware of the responsibilities in deploying, building and planning a contingent of professional and prospective female officials; and developing the percentage of female officials who are engaged in the planning to make a significant change. In addition, the district’s Party Committee and People’s Committee are supposed to regularly pay attention to raining and retraining to improve the quality of female officials and civil servants to meet standards and requirements for jobs and tasks at each local unit and agency.

Currently, the rate of women participating in the district’s  levels of Party’s Committee is 17.07% (up by 3.8% compared to the previous term); the rate of women participating in levels of communal Party committee is 14.42% (up by 3.61% compared to the term of 2011-2015); the rate of women participating in the State management at district-level professional agencies is 50%; the rate of women participating in the leadership and State management at levels of communal People’s Committee is 33.3%; the rate of women who are the representatives of district-level People’s Councils is 15% and commune-level People’s Councils is 23.51%; and the rate of female Party members in the district accounts for 37.61%. In addition, the total number of female officials that is planned to become leaders is the heads and deputy heads in agencies and units, and is equivalent to 32%, with 32.72% being planned as heads and 31.46% as deputy heads.

According to the assessment of Nhon Trachh People’s Committee, despite positive changes the district’s implementing gender equality affairs in political field has been faced up with numerous difficulties and challenges. Particularly, at first the district’s counseling and directions regarding the introduction of potential female candidates to attend the Congress of People’s Council representatives at all levels exceeded the targets compared to requirements but the rate of women to be elected as deputies of district-and-commune-level People’s Councils is low; the rate of female leaders in agencies and units is still limited; the rate of female officials attending levels of Party’s Committee at communal and township levels is still below 15%. Approximately 50% of units in Nhon Trach district have not still had any female leaders and the awareness of part of officials and people of gender equality is still limited, making it difficult for planning and creating the key source of female officials. There is still a perception that for gender equality and the progress of women is the affairs of Women’s Union and the Committee for Women’s Union. Along with the above perception is the inferiority mentality and uncertainty of most of female officials as they are transferred and promoted to higher positions.

Therefore, to improve the implementation of gender equality in the political systems at communal and district levels. In addition to continuing to bring the gender equality law into depth and creating a widespread in the community. Simultaneously, to improve the implementation of the gender equality goals in all agencies, committees, sectors and unions there must necessarily be solutions for carrying out planning, training and compensation processes effectively; promoting the dissemination of propaganda activities to change people’s awareness and create strong development conditions for women to take part in activities and confirm their roles and ability.

Duy Minh (Duy Hung)