The rate of girls at school age is also higher than boys while in the incumbent 15th legislature, female deputies account for 30.26 percent of the total lawmakers, the highest ratio since the fifth National Assembly.

However, Vietnam still meets a number of challenges in ensuring gender equality, especially the prolonged gender-based violence. The latest national survey showed that over 60 percent of married women had been abused physically and mentally.

A noteworthy point is the fact that gender discrimination still exists in part of the population. Girls account for the majority of victims of  violence and abuse, and women find it harder to access sustainable job opportunities than men.

Officer in Charge of the International Labour Organisation Vietnam Nguyen Hong Ha said due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, female workers are worse affected in terms of employment than their male counterparts, resulting in a 10.8 percent increase in gender-based employment gap.

Director of Hanoi's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Bach Lien Huong recommended that authorities allocate appropriate resources for gender equality promotion programmes.

United Nations Acting Resident Coordinator Kidong Park suggested Vietnam promote educational campaigns to raise public awareness of gender equality.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha proposed that parties concerned should work closely together to carry out a programme on preventing and coping with gender-based violence for the 2021-2025 period as well as priority policies for pregnant and COVID-19-infected women, and women caring for small children./. VNA