Gender experts discussed enthusiastically various ideas at the Women in Leadership Forum in Hanoi on 21 November 2016 to help the Australian Government collaborate with local partners to promote women’s career aspirations.
The Australian Government hosted the Forum as part of the Vietnam-Australia Human Resource Development Partnership (VAHRDP). The Forum was designed to foster an exchange of ideas on how to best integrate women’s leadership considerations into VAHRDP’s activities.
The event was attended by respected academics and NGO leaders working in the area of promoting women’s empowerment as well as representatives of partner organisations of the VAHRDP. Ms Pham Thu Hien, Deputy Director of Center for Gender and Women’s Leadership (GELEAD) of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, facilitated the discussion using the World Café approach.
Also on 21 November 2016, the Government of Australia launched the first-ever Australia in Vietnam Gender Equality Strategy 2016-2020. The Strategy paves the way for the Government of Australia to support the Government of Vietnam in its efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Vietnam.
“Women in Leadership is one of the three main pillars of the first Australia’s Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Strategy,”- said Ms Mia Urbano, Australia Regional Social Development Specialist. “It’s an era of firsts for Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It was the first time that Australia has a female Minister of Foreign Affairs and a female Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”
The Strategy presents Australia’s priority commitments for improving the quality of life for women and girls in Vietnam. It seeks to support the Government of Vietnam in implementing its National Gender Equality Strategy 2011-2020. Australia’s Strategy focuses on three key areas to progressively close the gender gaps in Vietnam, including: Enhancing women’s voice in decision-making and leadership; promoting women’s economic empowerment; and ending violence against women and girls.
Here are some photos of the Women in Leadership forum:
Ms Tran Thi Thu Ha, Vice Director, Vietnam Vocational Training Accreditation Agency, General Directorate of Vocational Training (left) is discussing with other forum participants.
Mr Phan Thanh Khoi, gender expert from Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, speaks at the event.
Ms Khuat Thu Hong, co-founder of Institute for Social Development Studies and Australia Awards Fellow, is explaining the benefits of women in leadership.
Ms Nguyen Thao Van, Director of “Will to Live” and Australia Awards Fellow, speaks at the event.
