Gender equality and women's empowerment: Vietnam's efforts to turn commitments into concrete actions
WVR - Vietnam's re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term not only affirms its diplomatic position but also reflects the deep commitment of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to human rights, with a priority on gender equality and women's empowerment.
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| Members of the Dao Lo Gang Women's Club for the Preservation of Ethnic Cultural Identity in Na Ba village. (Source: Thai Nguyen New) |
Amidst global challenges of gender inequality, Vietnam emerges as a beacon of efforts to promote gender equality and empower women. From a nation once ravaged by the severe consequences of war, where women were bound by outdated feudal ideologies, Vietnam has risen to become a country with significant achievements in gender equality, serving as a model for comprehensive and sustainable development in the region.
Last October, Vietnam once again gained high international trust by being re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026-2028 term with 180 out of 190 votes – the highest in the Asia-Pacific group. This result not only affirms its diplomatic position but also reflects the deep commitment of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to human rights, prioritizing gender equality and women's empowerment. This marks Vietnam's third term at the UNHRC, following successful terms from 2014-2016 and 2023-2025, demonstrating an unwavering journey to turn commitments into concrete actions.
Recognized achievements
In recent years, Vietnam has shown strong determination to promote women's equality rights by improving its legal system. Vietnam consistently views gender equality as the foundation of social progress and sustainable development. The principle of “leaving no one behind” is interwoven throughout national strategies, policies, laws, and development programs.
Programs addressing gender-based violence prevention and response, gender equality promotion, and enhancing women's equal participation in leadership and management positions at all policy-making levels have been implemented nationwide, with active participation from state agencies and socio-political organizations at all levels. Vietnam has achieved numerous gender equality results recognized by the international community.
Notably, in recent years, the legal and policy framework on gender has been comprehensively improved, with significant strides in ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men. Important legal documents such as the 2019 Labor Code, the 2022 Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control, the 2024 Social Insurance Law, and the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2021–2030 set specific goals and solutions to narrow the gender gap, creating conditions and opportunities for women and men to participate and benefit equally in all areas of social life, contributing to the country's sustainable development and establishing a solid framework to elevate women's status in all fields of life.
Building on an increasingly complete policy foundation, Vietnam has achieved many encouraging results in practice, evidenced by significant progress on international indices and domestic achievements. These results demonstrate a strong transformation from political commitment to concrete action.
In 2024, Vietnam ranked 72nd out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index, an 11-place increase from 2022. The proportion of female National Assembly deputies reached 30.26%, among the highest in the Asia-Pacific region; women account for 46.8% of the national workforce, with the female labor force participation rate at 62.4%. Women-led enterprises make up 28.2%, and the gender gap in basic education has been narrowed. Healthcare systems for ethnic minority and migrant women have been strengthened, and the quality of support services for gender-based violence victims has been significantly expanded and improved.
In a recent event, Caroline Nyamayemombe, UN Women Representative in Vietnam, shared with World & Vietnam Report four lessons on promoting gender equality that inspire other countries.
Firstly, strong political will and national initiative. Gender equality is always seen as both a goal and a development driver. Vietnam's National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2021–2030 outlines clear objectives and accountability mechanisms, guiding coordinated action among ministries and sectors in implementation.
Secondly, gender mainstreaming in laws, policies, and budget allocation has been effective. Vietnam's approach to gender-responsive planning and budgeting ensures that gender equality is not a standalone agenda but a shared responsibility across ministries and sectors.
Thirdly, multi-stakeholder partnerships play a crucial role – engaging the entire political system and society, from government, social organizations, academia, youth, and the private sector. This comprehensive approach turns commitments into tangible results.
Finally, linking gender equality with emerging priorities such as climate change action, digital transformation, and the care economy reflects Vietnam's forward-looking vision, enabling it to serve as a model for comprehensive and sustainable development in the region.
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| The Action Month for gender equality and prevention and response to gender-basedviolence is organized annually in Vietnam from November 15 to December 15. (Source: UN Women) |
Contributing to the global community's efforts
On the international stage, from the UN Security Council Resolution 1889 (2009) on the role of women in post-conflict contexts to the Hanoi Action Commitment in 2020, Vietnam has consistently and actively promoted the Women, Peace, and Security agenda, maintaining a commitment to enabling women not only as beneficiaries but also as architects of sustainable peace.
In a recent interview, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken expressed high regard for Vietnam's increasing contributions to UN peacekeeping activities and was impressed by the effective participation and contributions of Vietnamese female officers in peacekeeping forces.
With its re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, Vietnam has set forth 8 priorities and 12 voluntary commitments, affirming its continued efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in the upcoming term.
Emphasizing these priorities and commitments, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang stated: "These are long-term principles and priorities, aligned with the international community's concerns on human rights, as well as Vietnam's interests and cooperation needs in this field. Therefore, we will continue these principles and priorities while serving as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term and beyond."
Speaking at the second regular session of the UN Women Executive Board earlier in September, Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, emphasized the priority of bridging the digital divide and promoting women's leadership in the digital economy and artificial intelligence governance, while affirming a commitment to closely cooperate with UN Women, member states, and partners to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
Overall, the achievements in gender equality and women's empowerment in Vietnam in recent years are a significant success story, from the National Assembly to businesses, from rural areas to global peace hotspots. The re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2026-2028, with priorities and commitments to promote gender equality, is not only an honor but also a responsibility, helping Vietnam continue its joint efforts towards a fair and peaceful world.
As President Ho Chi Minh once said: "Women are half of society, if women are not liberated, half of humanity cannot be liberated," Vietnam is fully realizing this mission, contributing to promoting gender equality for an equitable and humane world.
