Gender responsive budgeting was the main topic of a workshop held by the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women in Hanoi on September 17.

At the workshop (Source: quochoi.vn)

Speaking at the event, Le Thi Nguyet, deputy head of the NA’s Committee for Social Affairs, said the integration of gender equality into the building of the 2015 Law on State Budget was an important premise to achieve the target of equality in access to and management of national resources.

 The Law on Gender Equality, which was approved by the Vietnamese legislature in 2006, has set basic principles of gender equality, including the integration of gender equality in the building and execution of laws and policies, she said.

 Therefore, the Law on State Budget has included gender equality into State budget management principles and made gender equality a basis to build the annual State budget estimate.

 Delegates shared the view that although Vietnam has reached noted achievements in ensuring gender equality such as the higher rates of female in the NA and in the workforce, there remain many problems.

 The percentage of women holding management positions is lower than that among men. Average income of female labourers is lower than that of their male counterparts, and women still bear the main responsibility for house work.

 Regarding the implementation of regulations of the Law on State Budget, the participants said the enforcement of State budget should be carried out effectively, contributing to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.

 They suggested more proper analysis of gender issues during the building of State budget estimates as well as State management policies.