To promote the press’s role on gender communication toward the National Assembly Election of the 12th Legislature.

At the doorstep of the 12^th National Assembly Election, in the morning of 27^th March at the regular press meeting of the Culture and Information Ministry, Mme. Ha Thi Khiet President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, President of the National Committee for the Advancement of women has met with managers, chief editors of many newspapers, leaders of news agencies at the Central level and of Hanoi to talk about gender equality in leadership towards the 12^th National Assembly Election.

Making up 50.9% of the population and 50.6% of the labor force, women are participating in most key economic sectors and developing their important role along with men to actively contribute to the development of the society. That the law o­n gender equality comes into being marks a significant progress for the advancement of women. The ratio of women leaders in the Party units and governmental agencies has increased. The percentage of women deputies in the National Assembly has grown by Legislature VIII: 17.8%; XI: 27.3 %...). Women at key positions in various Commissions of the National Assembly consist of 25%. This reflects Vietnam’s efforts and achievements o­n implementing gender equality and women development goals. Particularly, the presence of the Law o­n Gender Equality and the achievements in the 5^th & 6^th CEDAW Report are significant turning points in the process of implementing the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam up to 2010 and beyond.

However, in reality, this ratio is not corresponding to the women’s potentials and not enough to represent for their voice in significant national decisions.

Addressing at the press conference, President Ha Thi Khiet emphasized that communication plays a very important role o­n changing the people’s opinion o­n and awareness of gender equality in general and the role, status and real ability of women in particular. She hopes that through their voice and professional skills, news agencies will collect and disseminate information to the public timely and effectively, gathering efforts o­n enhancing the ratio of women members in the 12^th National Assembly to at least 30% and above. /.