The course was co-organised by Vietnam Women's Union, United Nations Development Programme and the Asian Fund, providing training for 50 female candidates from the ten northern mountainous localities of Son La, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Bac Kan, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Phu Tho, Lang Son and Dien Bien.
President of the Vietnam Women’s Union Nguyen Thanh Hoa, who is also a 13th NA deputy and a key lecturer for the course, said that capacity building and providing soft skills to meet requirements of leadership positions would create a foundation for women’s political participation.
The three day course equips female candidates with an overview of the NA, the Law on Organisation of the NA, women’s role in politics, and gender equality under current laws.
Participants are also introduced to action plans, and how to build compelling action programmes and present the programmes convincingly at meetings with local voters.
Resolution No. 11 by the Politburo in 2007 set the task to strive for having at least 25% or more female officers participating in Party committees at all levels and from 35-40% women’s representation of elected delegates at the NA and People's Councils at all levels by 2020. The Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and People's Councils at all levels in 2015 also set a target of guaranteeing at least 35% of the total number of official candidates running for NA deputy seats are women.
Assistant Director Dennis Curry of United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam stressed that the participation of women in leadership positions in politics and public administration will ensure the representation of the entire population in key institutions. It is also evidence of women's equal rights and measure to bring about diverse perspectives in policy formulation.
Knowledge, skills and confidence of female NA deputies will enable them to participate more actively in constitutional, legislative and monitoring activities to decide on the country’s important issues.
Dieu Huynh Sang, a NA deputy from southern Binh Phuoc province said that though only accounting for 24.4% of 13th NA deputies, female delegates have actively participated in the NA’s operation, with those directly questioning deputies in NA meetings accounting for 29.9%; 33.52% delivering comments on NA’s supreme thematic monitoring; and 30% to 50% female delegates participating in laws making.
The course also develops an online learning site at www.sansangdethanhcong.com to support the learners and provide the course’s content for anyone interested.
