Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Ambassador of Spain in Vietnam, Soledad Fuentes, UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra and representatives of 12 UN agencies in Vietnam were present at the signing ceremony.

“We believe empowering women is essential to reducing poverty and attaining democracy, peace and sustainable development,” Fuentes said.

The program will combine the collective experience and knowledge of 12 UN agencies to research and analyse the extent of gender inequality and improve information sharing and coordination among relevant ministries and other organizations, the UN statement said.

The joint program will contribute to the Millennium Development Goal while working across the health, education and economic sectors and targeting vulnerable women and girls, the statement added.

Vietnam passed the Gender Equality Law in 2006 and the Domestic Violence Law in 2007.

Reported by Vinh Bao