Promoting international cooperation for gender equality

VWU President Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and Mexican Ambassador Mrs. Sara Valdes Bolano shared the efforts and achievements in promoting gender equality in respective countries. Mrs. Bolano highly appreciated the VWU’s role in empowering women in Vietnam and was keen o­n bridging the VWU with the National Women’s Institute – a Mexican governmental agency which has similar functions to the VWU’s. Mrs. Thu Ha expressed her appreciation of gender equality achievements in Mexico, including the high women’s representation of 40-42% in the Cabinet and the equal retirement age for men and women at the age of 65.

The two sides agreed to explore cooperation potentials between the Women’s National Institute and the VWU through delegation exchange, seminars and dialogues o­n women’s issues.

On the same day, VWU Vice President Mrs. Bui Thi Hoa received Sri Lankan Ambassador Mrs. Hasanthi Vrugodawatte Dissanayake. Sri Lanka has been world known for its progress in gender equality. The first female Prime Minister in the world was from Sri Lanka. Now its women enjoy good education and have even higher education than men. Males in Sri Lanka are actively sharing housework with women. Both women and men retire at the age of 55 or higher at 60 depending o­n sectors and demands.

VWU Vice President Mrs. Bui Thi Hoa and Sri Lankan Ambassador Mrs. Hasanthi Vrugodawatte Dissanayake

Mrs. Bui Thi Hoa was very impressed by the progress achieved by Sri Lankan women. She hoped the Ambassador could help develop a closer contact between Sri Lankan women's organizations and VWU, believing Vietnam could learn a lot from Sri Lanka experiences in promoting gender equality and women’s advancement.