Vietnam Women’s Union attends the 8th ACW Meeting and ACWO Board Meeting in Brunei Darussalam

Representatives from the 10 ASEAN member countries, ASEAN Secretariat and ACWO attended this significant event. The Honourable Deputy-Ministry of Health Ministry Dato Paduka Haji Awang Hazair Bin Haji Abdullah attended the opening ceremony and addressed the remarks. In the speech, H.E highlighted women’s active participation in various fields and their great contributions to the prosperity of the respective countries and in Brunei women have enjoyed a good life and equality. If women have opportunities to fully participate in society, the community will be stronger and more people will benefit. If women are deprived of opportunities, the impact o­n human development will be grave. In crisis, women are the first victims suffering the consequences. The recent global financial crisis and economic downturn hit many countries in the world, affecting the livelihood of hundreds of millions of people over the world. Many people, mainly women have losed their jobs, savings, housing and living. Women account for 75% of the poorest people in the world. These problems can o­nly be addressed when women have full access to education, healthcare, recognition of their rights and participation in decision-making. Therefore, ASEAN needs to have stronger Platform for Actions to promote, protect and respect women’s rights.

Representing for ACWO at this meeting, VWU presented the ACWO report, indicating the great efforts made by all ACWO member countries o­n the economic empowerment of women, as its development strategy and promotion of women’s participation and contribution to the development of our respective countries and the region as well. VWU informed of the upcoming 14^th ACWO General Assembly and Conference which will be convened in Hanoi in 2010./.