Initiatives have spanned healthcare, education, and economic development, with a focus on empowering women in rural areas and leadership roles. Both nations are also aligning gender equality goals with broader agendas such as climate change and digitalization.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski emphasized the countries’ robust collaboration on gender equality issues during the celebration of the 93rd Vietnam Women’s Day and the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-Australia diplomatic relations. The partnership has evolved considerably since its initiation in 2010, focusing on various sectors, including healthcare, education, and economic development.
A decade ago, Vietnam ranked 72nd out of 134 countries on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report, a noteworthy achievement considering the nation’s recent history of war and poverty. By 2015, the country had reduced its birth mortality rate by two-thirds and had garnered international acclaim for ensuring access to basic education for women.
In the early phases of cooperation, Australia concentrated on improving rural women’s access to essential services. Initiatives included supporting MSI Reproductive Choices in extending healthcare services in rural districts and backing CARE International’s microfinance and income generation projects. These endeavors aimed at elevating the living standards of rural women, thereby fostering gender equality.
Education has been another critical area. The Australia Awards Scholarship program has been particularly encouraging for Vietnamese women. Since 2014, the number of women recipients has surpassed that of men, a trend that continues to this day. Moreover, in partnership with the Vietnam Center for Gender Studies and Women’s Leadership at the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics, Australia has designed extracurricular programs to boost women’s involvement in leadership roles.
The launch of Australia’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy in 2016 amplified the scale and reach of such gender-focused projects. Additionally, Australia has assisted Vietnam in revising the 2007 Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control and in removing barriers for women in sectors like agriculture and tourism.
Beyond individual programs, the two nations are aligning their gender equality goals with broader, high-priority agendas. These include climate change, energy transition, digitalization, innovation, and trade agreements. Ambassador Goledzinowski underscored that incorporating gender perspectives into policy-making can extend better opportunities to Vietnamese women and mitigate negative impacts.
The ambassador reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to continue working with Việt Nam to advance gender equality, thereby contributing to the prosperity and stability of both nations.
