12th National Vietnamese Women’s Congress shows the increasing position in society

From March 7 to 9, 2017, at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi, the 12th National Women’s Congress (2017- 2022 period) will be convened with the theme “Solidarity – Renovation – Equality - Integration”.

The event saw the presence of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, President Tran Dai Quang, former President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and former NA Chairmen Nguyen Van An and Nguyen Sinh Hung, as well as Politburo members, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Dinh The Huynh.

The congress was attended by 1,153 delegates representing women in all regions and localities throughout the country.

Addressing the congress, General Secretary Trong emphasised that during the country’s history, Vietnamese women have made great contributions to building and defending the nation, creating the tradition of being heroic, indomitable, faithful, humane and responsible.

On behalf of the Party and State’s leaders, the Party chief warmly congratulated and praised the great achievements in the women’s movement and the VWU in the past tenure. He noted that over the past five years, the VWU has promoted its core role in women's work and the cause of gender equality, as well as enhanced its function of representing, caring for and protecting the legal and legitimate right and interests of women, and become a bridge connecting the Party with its members, women, contributing to consolidating the great national unity bloc, Party building, and building a strong and clean political system.

General Secretary Trong analysed the opportunities, advantages and challenges as well as pointed out some issues that the Union needs to give further attention to improve the efficiency of the role of women and its operations in the coming time.

He asked the VWU to thoroughly grasp the the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress, set out specific measures to bring it to life and encourage women from all strata to implement the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies and laws; as well as promote the strength of women in all fields, and protect the dignity, legitimate rights and interests of women.

The agency should continue to organise and improve the quality of emulation movements and campaigns to attract a large number of women to participate and contribute to the cause of national construction and defence, said the Party leader. He also stressed that it is essential to enhance the role of women in building strong, cultural, happy and progressive families, particularly in caring for and educating children.

General Secretary Trong urged the Union at all levels to focus on synchronously implementing measures to help Vietnamese women comprehensively develop in terms of brainpower, morality, physiciality, spirituality, creative capacity and public consciousness, meeting requirements for the country’s industrialisation, modernisation and international integration. In addition, the agencies should promptly detect, foster and introduce capable female candidates to join Party committees, governments, ministries, and agencies from the central grassroots levels, added the Party chief.

He stated that the VWU needs to innovate and diversify contents and methods used in its operations to make it stronger as well as to practically and effectively meet the demands of women from all strata.

The General Secretary asked the Union to seriously implement Resolution No.4 on Party building and rectification set by the 12th Party Central Committee, focusing on educating, fostering and encouraging its members to proactively join social supervision and criticism, Party and government building, in addition to political and social activities.

At the congress, Party leader Trong urged the Party committees, governments and agencies at all levels to set out specific action programmes and plans in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the role of women as well as enhance communication to raise public awareness on gender equality.

Chairwoman of the 11th Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) Nguyen Thi Thu Ha noted that the congress was responsible for reviewing and objectively and comprehensively evaluating the results, limitations and regions as well as drawing on lessons and experience in implementing the Resolution of the 11th National Congress of Women.

The congress will also discuss targets and tasks for 2017-2022 tenure and approve the regluations of the VWU (amended and supplemented) as well as elect the Union’s Central Executive Committee.