Fostering understandings of Vietnam’s seas and islands for VWU staff
Dr. Bui The Duc, Deputy Head of the Party’s Central Propaganda Commission, and Ms. Hoang Thi Ai Nhien, VWU 1st Vice President, co-chaired the workshop.
The workshop provided VWU staff information and knowledge on potentials and significance of Vietnam’s seas and islands in the cause of national defense and development, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), Law of the sea of Vietnam, legal evidence of sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and legitimate interests of Vietnam in the East Sea; historical evidence of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty; VWU information, education and communication (IEC) tasks on the seas and islands.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Bui The Duc highly appreciated the VWU’s timely and practical recent activities having contributed to the efforts of the entire Party, people and the army to well carry out the IEC work, and provide great care and support to families of military officer and soldiers on duty to protect the national sea and island sovereignty.
Over the past 4 years, the VWU has sent many delegations to visit the Spratlys. Since 2013, under the cooperation program "Mobilizing women to build and defend the sea and islands sovereignty" between the Vietnam Women's Union and the High Command of the Vietnam People’s Navy, the VWU at all levels have promoted the IEC on the sea and islands in various forms (cultural exchanges and performance, contests, thematic talks, etc); encouraged VWU members and women to provide care and support to families of military officers and soldiers on duty, thus encouraging them to be more persistent and determined in protecting the nation’s sea and island sovereignty. The movement "Joining efforts for the nation’s sea and islands” launched by the VWU attracted active participation and contribution by VWU members and women throughout the country and a remarkable fund has been set up to support the Vietnamese forces on the sea.
Ms. Hoang Thi Ai Nhien emphasized that the current situation of the seas and islands poses new requirements and tasks for the country in general and Women's Unions at all levels in particular. She appreciated the timeliness and contents of the workshop which helps improve VWU staff knowledge and understanding of Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty; thus arousing their love and pride of the nation’s seas and islands. The workshop was also a forum for the northern provincial WUs to share experiences in the IEC activities to protect the sea and island sovereignty inspiring WUs at all levels to take more initiatives to promote the strength of women and the
