Female Cadre Work: From Awareness to Action

Perspective through the numbers

The World Economic Forum's 2024 report showed that Vietnam ranked 72nd in terms of gender equality, up 11 places compared to 2022. Currently, the percentage of female deputies to the 15th National Assembly is over 30%, the highest since the 6^th National Assembly Congress. The percentage of female deputies to the People's Council at all levels also reaches 29%, higher than the previous term. However, there are still 2 provinces without female National Assembly deputies (Hai Phong and Ca Mau provinces). The percentage of women participating in Party committees on average nationwide as of June 2024 was 15.96% at provincial level, 19.63% at district level and 24.77% at commune level. There was a difference in this rate between regions, in which the Southeast has the highest rate at all levels, while the Northern Mountainous Midlands, Mekong Delta, and Central Highlands have the lowest rate at communal, district and provincial levels respectively.

Percentage of women participating in party committees at provincial, district and commune levels in 2024 (data compiled by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics in June 2024)

Preparing female personnel to participate in the Party committee level – Experience from the locality

In many localities, the preparation of female personnel for the Party Congress at all levels has been actively implemented.

Establishment of a media team to mobilize women to participate in politics: In Ha Giang province, the province proactively identifies and trains potential female candidates. Ms. Vu Thi Dinh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Thi Phin Tong commune (Ha Giang), said that the preparation for the Party Congress at all levels was being implemented comprehensively, in which personnel work was carefully prepared. According to her, to increase the percentage of women participating in the Party Committee, it is necessary to have the attention of the leaders who direct drastically and create a high consensus in the collective to give trust to women, create conditions and assign tasks for them. Besides, it needs reviewing female human resources, selecting qualified female staff to foster development. And gender prejudice is still a barrier hindering the ethnic minority women from participating in social activities as well as taking on leadership positions, so the commune has established communication teams to encourage women to participate in the activities of the local authority and mass organizations.

A training class on leadership and management skills organized by the Women's Union of Ha Giang province Photo: Le Hai

Early and far in advance review of the source of female cadres:  The work of female cadres is always of concern to leaders of Ha Giang province. And women have upheld their role well when participating in leadership positions. To prepare personnels for the coming Party Congress at all levels, the Women’s Union of Ha Giang province has conducted an early and far in advance review of the female resources and introduced well-trained and qualified female cadres to the Party. At the same time, the Women’s Union has also organized training to improve skills and capacity for women.

National Assembly deputies using an electronic system in voting

Self-improvement - a journey without an end: Successful female cadres emphasize continuous self-improvement and overcoming gender stereotypes. They cite the importance of training, networking, and balancing work and family life. Ms. Le Thi Sang, Vice Chairwoman of Tho Son Commune People's Committee (Binh Phuoc province), and Ms. Le Thi Minh, Chairwoman of the Nghia Hung District Confederation of Labor (Nam Dinh province), are typical examples. They have been given opportunities to participate in training to improve their capacity. However, they also face difficulties, gender biases, and struggles to balance family and work. To overcome those barriers, they are constantly learning, improving themselves, and building good relationships with colleagues and people.

Ms. Le Thi Sang, Vice Chairwoman of Tho Son Commune People's Committee (Bu Dang District, Binh Phuoc Province)

In the journey of self-development, female cadres all prepare themselves with the necessary baggage of knowledge and health. With knowledge, female cadres are brave enough to seize opportunities and overcome barriers. Life is constantly evolving, and learning is a never-ending journey.

To boost the percentage of women participating in the Party Committee, experts have recommended stronger central-level policies, including higher targets for female candidates and stricter enforcement. They also suggest flexible training, appointment policies, and increased awareness among local officials about the importance of female representation. The goal is to translate awareness into concrete action, ensuring women to play a greater role in Vietnam's political future.