Seminar: South-South experience exchange between Vietnam and African countries, promoting rights for women and girls
WVR - On the afternoon of March 11, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), in collaboration with the Embassy of Mozambique in Vietnam and the Embassy of South Africa in Vietnam, organized a seminar titled “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls: South-South experience exchange between Vietnam and African countries”.
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Attending the seminar were former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Phuong Nga, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Minh Huong, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis, South African Ambassador to Vietnam Vuyiswa Tulelo, Mozambican Ambassador to Vietnam Ilundi Dos Santos, representatives from UN agencies in Vietnam, diplomatic delegations, scholars, the private sector, and social organizations...
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| UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis affirmed that the justice system will be stronger when women are not only seekers of justice but also leaders and decision-makers within those systems. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
In her opening remarks, Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, emphasized that the three concepts “Rights - Justice - Action” remind us that progress is not only about laws written on paper. More importantly, it is about whether women and girls can truly exercise and enjoy those rights in their daily lives.
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According to Pauline Tamesis, the justice system plays a crucial role in this process. These institutions determine whose voices are heard, whose experiences are trusted, and whether agencies and organizations respond fairly.
“The justice system will be stronger when women are not only seekers of justice but also leaders and decision-makers within those systems,” Tamesis expressed.
However, the UN Coordinator pointed out that many barriers still exist: discrimination, limited law enforcement, inadequate representation of women, unfavorable social norms, and the fear of stigma.
These challenges are even more severe for women facing multiple overlapping disadvantages.
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| Overview of the seminar. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Pauline Tamesis highlighted that Vietnam has shown strong and persistent commitment in this field. The recent review by the CEDAW Convention acknowledged the country's progress in budget allocation, land management and use, social insurance, and protecting women from domestic violence.
“Therefore, today's dialogue is particularly important. Vietnam, South Africa, and Mozambique all face similar challenges: bridging the gap between legal provisions and real-life practice, strengthening victim-centered justice systems, and promoting women's leadership,” the UN representative in Vietnam noted.
By sharing practical solutions tailored to specific contexts, Tamesis believes the three countries can move beyond rigid models, building cooperation based on respect, openness, and adaptability.
“On the occasion of International Women's Day 2026, let us reaffirm: Rights are universal. Justice must be accessible. Action must be concrete. And progress must encompass all women and girls, in all their diversity,” she said.
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| South African Ambassador to Vietnam Vuyiswa Tulelo shares at the seminar. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Sharing at the seminar, South African Ambassador to Vietnam Vuyiswa Tulelo informed that as a constitutional democracy with one of the world's most progressive legal frameworks for gender equality, South Africa has valuable experience in transforming legally recognized rights into enforceable justice mechanisms.
However, persistent challenges remain, such as gender-based violence, femicide, disparities in access to justice across regions, institutional fragmentation, and the digital divide, highlighting the need for continued innovation and learning.
“We are continuing efforts to modernize the justice system, including expanding online trial processes, electronic record management, and technology-based victim support services. Additionally, South Africa can learn from Global South countries, particularly in areas like community-based justice, integrated service delivery models, and gender-responsive digital tools,” the diplomat expressed.
Recalling the phrase “Strike a woman, strike a rock” – a slogan chanted by 20,000 women during the 1956 march for freedom and against the Pass laws, Tulelo emphasized that South Africa's strong tradition of women's leadership in law, justice, civil society, and public representation stems from the spirit of those courageous women.
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| Mozambican Ambassador to Vietnam Ilundi Dos Santos speaks at the event. (Photo: UN Women) |
For Ambassador Tulelo, Vietnamese women have a similar story – a story of resilient and courageous women who fought for the country's independence. Thus, the seminar will contribute to mutual learning, introducing practical solutions, and working with partner countries to develop approaches towards a more inclusive, accessible, and gender-sensitive justice system across the Global South.
The South African diplomat also cited a UN report stating that women worldwide currently hold only 64% of the legal rights compared to men. These inequalities have deprived half of humanity of the opportunity to fully realize their roles and contributions in society and the economy.
“Therefore, International Women's Day is not only an occasion to celebrate but also a reminder that despite significant progress, much work remains. Gender equality benefits not only women but society as a whole,” Ambassador Tulelo shared.
According to UN Women, over the past decades, Vietnam has made significant progress in promoting gender equality. The legal and policy system is increasingly complete, with important documents such as the Gender Equality Law; the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence; and reforms and amendments in the Labor Code. Women's participation in political life has also been enhanced, along with notable achievements in education, health, and the economy. These achievements demonstrate Vietnam's strong commitment to international frameworks, including the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the CEDAW Convention, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, the results achieved highlight the value of persistent investment in gender equality as a foundation for inclusive national development. |
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