The fourth draft of Gender Equality Bill in Vietnam

Abstract

This paper aims to introduce and make my comment on the fourth draft of Gender Equality Bill in Vietnam. The draft is made in January 2006 by Vietnam Women's Union with assistance of Asian Development Bank technical assistance team financed by Poverty Reduction Assistance Fund. I am asked to make comment on this draft by technical team supporting the preparation of the Law on Gender Equality.
There are totally 36 articles in this draft: Chapter 1 General provisions, Chapter 2 Gender Equality in different areas, Chapter 3 Measures for ensuring gender equality, Chapter 4 Inspection and sanctions against acts of gender discrimination, Chapter 5 Implementation provisions.
There are some features in this draft.(1) Gender equality shall be kept in political, economic, labour, education and training, culture - information, health, and family areas.(2) As measures for ensuring gender equality, the proper body shall review gender mainstreaming in law, policy making. There are provisions on responsibilities of the State, Vietnam Fatherland Front, National Committee for Advancement of Vietnamese Women, Vietnam Women's Union, family and citizens.(3) There are sanctions against violations of gender equality, for example, no emulation titles, no promotion, making public the correction, refunding or compensating the damages, compulsory carrying education of gender equality, application of criminal liability. Agencies and individual having the illegal acts of gender equality may directly report or send the violation to the People's Committee, Inspectors of gender equality, National Committee for the advancement of Women, Vietnam Women's Union and People's Court under the Law on Claim and Denouncement.
In June 2006, the eighth edition draft is made which will be discussed at National Assembly. This draft will be passed in November 2006 at the National Assembly. Therefore this fourth draft is a valuable material to know the process of Gender Equality Act.