The launch ceremony attracted more than 500 delegates from ministries, sectors, agencies, businesses, the United Nations, embassies, and non-governmental organisations.
The action month has been held annually from November 15 to December 15 since 2016. To date, its messages have been popularised to more than 10 million people, raising their awareness of gender equality and gender-based violence prevention and response.
Speaking at the event, MoLISA Minister Dao Ngoc Dung affirmed Vietnam's commitments to ensuring gender equality and increasing women’s empowerment.
To address gender inequality in Vietnam, he stressed that in addition to laws, policies and programmes ensuring social welfare, communication is identified as the most important task and solution to raise awareness, change behaviour, contribute to eliminating prejudice, and move towards achieving substantive gender equality.
He called on ministries, sectors, agencies, Party committees at all levels, local authorities, organisations, media agencies, and every citizen to join hands and take practical actions towards gender equality, for the development, prosperity and happiness of each individual, family and society.
For her part, Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, natural disasters, wars, and conflicts all increase gender-based violence and worsen the economic difficulties of households.
Investing in prevention work is essential to minimise its impact, as it not only helps women, children, and families but also makes national economies healthier and more sustainable, she stressed.
