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UNIFEM is part of the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality in Viet Nam

UNIFEM is among 12 UN agencies committed to an innovative Joint Programme to promote gender equality in Viet Nam. The Joint Programme on gender equality between the Government of Viet Nam and the United Nations was signed at an official ceremony on 19th March 2009.

With a total budget of USD4,683,516, of which more than USD4.5 million comes from the Spanish government, the Joint Programme aims to improve the capacity of national and provincial authorities and other duty bearers to effectively implement, monitor and evaluate the Law on Gender Equality and the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control.

Although a strong policy and legal framework to promote gender equality exists in Viet Nam, more still needs to be done to create equal opportunities for men and women.Viet Nam passed the Gender Equality Law in 2006 and the Domestic Violence Law in 2007 and together these laws codify the State’s accountability for strengthening gender equality in public and private life.

The Joint Programme aims to strengthen implementation and monitoring of the laws on gender equality and domestic violence, research and analyse the extent of gender inequality in Viet Nam and improve information sharing and coordination among relevant ministries and civil society organisations. 

UNIFEM Viet Nam is the lead agency for one component in the Joint Programme that focuses on the implementation of the Law on Gender Equality. Partnering with Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), UNIFEM will lead a capacity assessment of all duty bearers who are responsible for coordinated implementation, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on this law, and the law on control and prevention of domestic violence. Other activities UNIFEM is undertaking for the Joint Programme include: assistance with development of a plan of action for implementing the National Strategy on Gender Equality;  advice to Women Parliamentarian Group on reviewing laws and advocating for gender equality and technical support to Non Government Organisations and the National Committee on Advancement of women in  participation in the  Viet Nam Gender Action Partnership (GAP)-the main gender forum for donors, civil society and the UN.

The Joint Programme will contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality and women’s empowerment. UNIFEM Viet Nam’s activities through this programme cover health, education and economic sector and in particular will target vulnerable women and girls.