CSW70: Vietnam commits to promoting women's access to justice, joining hands to build a fair and inclusive world
WVR - Speaking at CSW70 in New York, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized ensuring women's access to justice and shared Vietnam's experiences in legal aid and combating gender-based violence.
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| Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). (Photo: Anh Pham) |
From March 9–11, a delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha attended the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, USA.
Foundation for eliminating gender discrimination
During the general discussion session, countries focused on discussing new challenges in promoting gender equality, particularly ensuring access to justice for women and girls.
Speaking at the general discussion on March 11, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized that access to justice is not only a fundamental human right but also a crucial foundation for eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender, thereby promoting sustainable development.
The Deputy Minister also shared Vietnam's experiences in improving the legal and policy framework to promote gender equality and protect the rights and interests of women.
Specifically, the Legal Aid Law, effective since 2017, has expanded free support to include victims of domestic violence, human trafficking, and minors in difficult circumstances. Legal Aid Centers have been established in 100% of provinces and cities; over 62% of legal aid providers are women, contributing to gender sensitivity in service delivery.
Additionally, more than 6,000 models and facilities providing services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence are operating nationwide. These models support women and girls, especially in remote areas, to access essential services such as psychological counseling, legal aid, and emergency protection promptly.
Through these policies and programs, Vietnam reaffirms its commitment to fully and effectively implementing the CEDAW Convention, the Beijing Platform for Action, and international commitments on human rights.
No woman or girl left behind
On the sidelines of CSW 70, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha met with Osmayda Hernandez Beleno, an official from the National Executive Committee of the Cuban Women's Federation. The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern in the field of gender equality and women's advancement.
They recalled and emphasized the special cooperative friendship between the two countries and peoples. Based on this, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha and Osmayda Hernandez Beleno agreed to establish a channel for exchange and cooperation in gender equality between the two agencies to learn, share experiences, and assist each other in the future.
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha stated that Vietnam is continuing to integrate gender equality goals into institutional reform, building a rule-of-law state, and promoting sustainable development.
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| Overview of the CSW70 celebration (Photo: Anh Pham). |
A representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs emphasized: "We are committed to continuing efforts to improve gender-sensitive legislation, enhance the capacity of law enforcement teams, promote digital transformation to expand access to justice, and ensure the substantive participation of women in governance and decision-making.
Vietnam is ready to cooperate, share experiences, and seeks to strengthen coordination with member countries and UN agencies to build a fair, inclusive world where no woman or girl is left behind".
Within the framework of the 70th annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha not only participated in the high-level general discussion but also attended ministerial sessions and various side events such as roundtables, thematic seminars, and bilateral meetings to exchange experiences and enhance international cooperation in gender equality.
Among these, the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations organized a seminar titled "Justice Without Barriers: Empowering Women and Youth in Law and Leadership". The event, chaired by the spouse of the Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations, aimed to discuss solutions to enhance access to justice and promote women's participation in law and leadership roles.
CSW is the largest intergovernmental mechanism of the United Nations dedicated to discussing and promoting policies related to women's rights and gender equality. The outcomes of the annual sessions are compiled into recommendations and policy directions to support member states in implementing sustainable development goals related to women and girls.
