Would-be female candidates for the
upcoming National Assembly and People’s Council elections gathered in Ha Noi
yesterday, April 18, to learn the necessary skills.

Actress Hong Anh is among several women who have been nominated for the upcoming National Assembly elections. Female candidates will be trained on how to canvass voters under a new Government initiative. (Photo: VNS)

The
two-day conference is part of activities to lift the rate of female
representatives in both bodies to more than 30 per cent.

The
women are learning how to build their images, make and present action plans
through the media and in front of voters as well as the skills needed to meet
and canvass voters.

Vice
chairman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Luong Phan Cu said the media
played an important role in introducing candidates to voters by rapidly
conveying their plans, messages and images.

“Candidates should develop skills at reading and writing – and especially at
speaking,” he said.

“To make
their speech more persuasive, candidates should carefully study political
attitudes and the intellectual level of voters as well as the socio-economic
development and traditions where voters lived,” Cu added.

Vice
chairwoman of the NA Council for Ethnic Group, Bui Thi Binh said creating an
action plan was the most effective

tool for canvassing voters directly.

A good
action plan helped show candidates’ respect for voters and their determination
to accomplish tasks.

“An
action plan should focus on a candidate’s biography, their responsibilities as a
NA deputy and their desire to get the backing of voters,” Binh said.

Vice
chairman of the National Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Van Pha said
there were few female candidates as most agencies and organisations introduced
males – and women remained hesitant.

“Female
candidates also face male chauvinism, low intellectual levels by some voters and
the lack of information for those living in remote and mountainous areas,” he
added.

“More
information dissemination and campaigns are needed to give women better
chances,” he said.

Truong
Thi Mai, a member of the Party Central Committee and Chairwoman of the NA Social
Affairs Committee, said the increasing presence of female NA deputies would help
create better balanced policies.

“Ensuring a reasonable rate of female NA deputies and People’s Council members
is in line with the national

target on gender equality,” Mai said.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News