Bringing tangible benefits to women and children from ethnic minorities.

The Lang Son Provincial Women's Union is stepping up communication efforts on gender equality. Photo: Ha Trang

Based on the overall objectives of Project 8, women's associations at all levels in Lang Son province have intensified and diversified their methods of disseminating information on gender equality to members and the public. Specifically, these associations regularly innovate and flexibly apply various forms of communication such as: integrating it into branch meetings, distributing leaflets, creating documentaries, holding seminars, competitions, and using social media… From 2021 to the present, women's associations at all levels have conducted over 10,000 awareness campaigns on gender equality, reaching over 500,000 listeners. The content of these campaigns includes: the Law on Gender Equality; the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence; and the role of women in various fields…

For example, in Binh Gia district, over the past years, the Women's Union at all levels has strengthened the organization of policy dialogue conferences at the commune and village cluster levels with the participation of a large number of officials, members, and women. Ms. Pham Thi Thuong, President of the Binh Gia District Women's Union, shared that, implementing Project 8, from 2021 to the present, we have organized gender equality awareness campaigns in many forms such as: distributing leaflets, hanging banners and slogans, integrating it into union activities, and holding thematic talks… In particular, every year there are large-scale communication activities at the district level in response to the peak month of action for gender equality and prevention and control of domestic violence, attracting a large number of members and people to participate. Before the awareness campaigns, we conduct surveys, select core issues relevant to each target group and location, and focus on raising awareness to change mindsets and practices, contributing to the elimination of gender stereotypes and biases in families and communities, as well as cultural customs harmful to women and children.

The community communication team of Thanh Son commune, Huu Lung district, disseminates legal information to the people. Photo: Ha Linh.

In Huu Lung district, implementing Project 8, the Women's Union of Thanh Son commune coordinated with agencies and units to establish three community communication teams in three villages: Thong Nhat, Dien Tren, and Dien Duoi. These teams aimed to educate the people to change their mindset and practices, as well as eliminate gender stereotypes, customs, and habits harmful to women and children in the area. To protect the rights of women and children, in addition to establishing community communication teams, the Women's Union of the commune also focused on organizing dialogues between local Party committees, authorities, and women in the commune.

Ms. Duong Thi Ninh, Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Thanh Son commune, said: "The entire commune currently has 743 households with 3,376 people, of which more than 90% are ethnic minorities. The establishment of community communication groups has been bringing positive results. Through these community communication groups, people gain more knowledge about gender equality, the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence, the Law on Children, etc., so that people can better implement the State's policies and laws regarding women and children."

According to the assessment of the Lang Son Provincial Women's Union, after nearly four years of implementation, Project 8 has brought many practical benefits to ethnic minority women and children in the province. The objectives and contents of Project 8 have basically met and exceeded the targets compared to the plan. In the coming time, the Provincial Women's Union will continue to direct all levels of the Union to maintain and establish models according to the targets by 2025. These include new models such as establishing village savings and loan groups; supporting livelihood groups with women as the head or co-head applying Industry 4.0 technology in production and market connection; organizing policy dialogue sessions at the commune and village cluster levels in particularly difficult areas; and enhancing the capacity of ethnic minority women officials at the district and commune levels… From there, the goal is to achieve and exceed the targets of Project 8 for the 2021-2025 period.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/mang-lai-loi-ich-thiet-thuc-cho-phu-nu-va-tre-em-dan-toc-thieu-so-10290895.html