Can Tho Works to Promote Gender Equality for Ethnic Minorities

Communication works, forums and talks on gender equality will be held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho under a project to support gender equality in ethnic minority areas during 2018-2025. The project aims to create positive changes in implementing gender equality-related activities and raise women’s status in ethnic-inhabited areas, thus, contributing to successfully realizing goals set in the National Assembly on gender equality. Besides, legal regulations on gender equality, marriage and domestic violence will be popularized in accordance with the culture of the ethnic groups. Contests on gender equality will also be held. Notably, the city hopes to bolster international cooperation to mobilize resources for gender equality activities in the locality. It will work with the local Women’s Union and Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs to develop social skills and economic capacity for ethnic minority women. According to Luong Van Tru, Head of the city’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, since the implementation of the national program on gender equality in 2011, the city has narrowed the inequality gap thanks to activities to promote gender equality and prevent domestic violence. Statistics from the city women’s union showed that nearly 40% of working-age women in rural areas have no vocational training or no specific profession. The city is home to 27 ethnic minority groups with a total population of 38,929 people or 3.18% of the city’s population. Most of them reside in Co Do, Thoi Lai and O Mon districts. (english.vov.vn Dec 27)