A ceremony was held in Hanoi on November 11 to launch the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response 2025, themed “Gender Equality and Safety for Women and Girls in the Digital Era.”

Officials at the launch of the National Action Month for Gender Equality and Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response 2025.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha affirmed that in recent years, the Party and the State have consistently regarded gender equality as a key political task.

This has been reflected in the promulgation of laws aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering women, and ensuring equal rights for all individuals in society.

Vietnam’s achievements in gender equality have been widely recognised and highly valued internationally. The country takes pride in being one of the regional leaders in narrowing the gender gap, she said.

According to the Global Governance Forum’s Gender Equality and Governance Index, Vietnam ranked 39th out of 158 countries in 2024, a significant improvement of 32 places from its position in 2022.

The proportion of female deputies in the National Assembly reached 30.26%, surpassing both global and regional averages.

Additionally, an increasing number of outstanding Vietnamese women entrepreneurs and executives have been recognised by the World Economic Forum. Gender equality and women’s empowerment were among the three Millennium Development Goals that Vietnam successfully achieved.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that while digital transformation presents many opportunities, significant challenges remain regarding gender equality. Persistent stereotypes have continued to exist, and new forms of gender-based violence are emerging in cyberspace.

These include fraud, grooming, verbal harassment, the sharing of sensitive images and videos, blackmail, and online abduction. Such acts are becoming more sophisticated and harder to manage, leading to new social instabilities, with women and girls being the primary and most vulnerable victims.

Studies carried out by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in 2021 found that among 89% of children aged 12–17 who use the internet, 87% go online daily, yet only 36% know how to protect their personal information.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has chosen the 2025 theme “Gender Equality and Safety for Women and Girls in the Digital Era” to emphasise the importance of cross-level and cross-sector coordination in promoting gender equality and preventing and responding to gender-based violence during digital transformation.

Ha called on ministries, agencies, mass organisations, and local authorities to strengthen resource mobilisation, while urging international organisations at home and abroad to continue providing technical support to raise awareness and promote gender equality in the digital age.

She also highlighted the crucial role of the media in shaping public attitudes and spreading positive messages on women’s empowerment and digital safety solutions.

Sharing data from the Hanoi Convention, Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, revealed that between 16% and 58% of women and girls have been victims of online violence.

One in four Vietnamese children encountered sexual images or videos online last year, 14% actively sought them out, nearly 2% of older adolescents were offered money or gifts in exchange for sensitive photos, and 1% had personal images shared without consent.

She emphasised the need to integrate gender equality into digital policies and strategies. It is essential to narrow the gender gap in digital skills and to ensure that women and girls are equipped with the knowledge to participate confidently in the digital world.

Investments should focus on digital education and training for communities in remote and disadvantaged areas, as well as encouraging girls to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields.

Additionally, partnerships with the private sector should be strengthened to create leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities for women in technology.

Tamesis further underscored the importance of multi-sectoral cooperation among governments, UN agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector to build a safe digital ecosystem.

Vietnam is moving towards this goal, she said, adding that the UN stands ready to be a partner, connector, and advocate to help Vietnam realise its vision of a digital future, the future of safety, equality, and dignity for all.

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