Protecting girls' rights today is securing a more equitable future.

On October 6, in Hanoi, the People's Committee of Hai Ba Trung District coordinated with the Hanoi Department of Health to organize a conference to honor good and studious girls in exemplary families that have well implemented population policies on the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child, October 11.

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Art performance to welcome the conference

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Dr. Vu Duy Hung, Head of the Hanoi Department of Population and Family Planning, said that the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11 every year is chosen by the United Nations to raise awareness of gender equality, promote the community to implement policies to support the enhancement of the role and position of girls in particular and women in general, especially girls in families where only one child is a girl.

Dr. Vu Duy Hung - Head of Hanoi Department of Population and Family Planning delivered the opening speech at the conference.

In Vietnam, the imbalance in the sex ratio at birth has been a major challenge for population work since 2006. In 2015, the sex ratio at birth was very high at 112.8 boys/100 girls. In the period 2016-2022, the increase in the sex ratio at birth has been controlled, but it is not stable and is still high compared to the natural balance (112 boys/100 girls, 2022). Gender inequality is the fundamental cause of increasing the imbalance in the sex ratio at birth, on the contrary, gender imbalance will deepen the problem of gender inequality and adolescent girls are the most vulnerable.
Therefore, it is necessary to create conditions for them to enter adulthood safely and equally. When they are empowered to decide for themselves, they have more opportunities to develop their potential, become positive factors creating change in their families, communities and countries. Therefore, protecting the rights of girls today is ensuring a fairer future. This meaningful message aims to call on the whole world to give more opportunities to girls and raise awareness about gender inequality including areas such as education, nutrition, health, protection from discrimination, violence and no more child marriage...

They have a right to a safe, healthy and educated life, not only during their critical formative years but also as women. If cared for during adolescence, girls have the potential to change the world, becoming tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, family leaders and political leaders in society.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vice Chairman of Hai Ba Trung District People's Committee spoke at the conference.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee, Vice Chairwoman of the Hai Ba Trung District People's Committee, in recent years, the district has paid attention to directing and investing in people's health care. Thanks to that, the district's health and population work has achieved many positive results.

As of September 30, 2023, the population of Hai Ba Trung district reached over 295 thousand people. In the first 9 months of the year, the total number of children born was 1,821, a decrease of 70 children compared to the same period in 2022. The number of children born as the third child was 0.

Regarding population work, 100% of pregnant women over 11 weeks (1,493/1,725 people) received prenatal counseling and screening. The rate of newborns receiving counseling and screening reached 100% of the plan (848/945 children). The district's sex ratio at birth in 2023 was 102 boys/100 girls. In addition, 100% of men and women before marriage were also counseled and examined for health.

According to Ms. Hien, the above results were achieved thanks to the active participation of authorities at all levels and people in communication work, raising awareness of gender equality. In particular, the district has reduced the sex ratio at birth from 112/100 in 2016 to 102 boys/100 girls in 2023, demonstrating remarkable results in population work.

In the coming time, Ms. Hien said, Hai Ba Trung district will continue to promote communication activities on gender equality and implement models to support women and girls. This is to improve the quality of the population, making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Girls were recognized at the conference.

On this occasion, the conference honored 100 good and studious girls representing more than 5,200 families in Hai Ba Trung district who have only daughters. They are all excellent students, actively participate in union and charity activities and are shining examples for other young people to follow.

Representing 100 outstanding girls who were honored, Phung Thi Ha Vi - a student of To Hoang Secondary School expressed her pride in attending the conference and shared about her hard-working and disciplined learning process as well as the care and encouragement of her family. She affirmed that she will continue to study hard to not let down her teachers and parents.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuoc - a parent of a student at Hai Ba Trung Secondary School shared her family's experience in raising her daughter. She believes that respecting and treating daughters fairly and stopping having children at a reasonable level is necessary to build a happy family.

The conference to honor good and studious girls of Hai Ba Trung district is a practical and meaningful activity to promote and raise public awareness of gender equality, contributing to reducing gender imbalance at birth. Thereby, spreading the message of building happy, equal and developed families.

Viet Cuong

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