{"id":499,"date":"2025-10-12T12:46:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T12:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/?p=499"},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:54:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:54:38","slug":"women-leading-local-change-turning-sdg-5-into-action-in-vietnam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/women-leading-local-change-turning-sdg-5-into-action-in-vietnam\/","title":{"rendered":"Women Leading Local Change: Turning SDG 5 into Action in Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"499\" class=\"elementor elementor-499\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fc774d3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7fc774d3\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d65e80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0d65e80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Women Leading Local Change: Turning SDG 5 into Action in Vietnam\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b48f62b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b48f62b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">At the <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">LeadHerShip Young Professional Summit 2025<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">, held on October 11\u201312 in Ho Chi Minh City, <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">Dr. \u0110\u1eb7ng Th\u1ecb Ng\u1ecdc Lan<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">, Lecturer at the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), delivered an insightful presentation on <\/span><strong style=\"font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; color: #2b3132; font-family: 'Exo 2', sans-serif;\">\u201cThe Role of Women in Localizing SDG 5: Empowering Gender Equality Through Local Leadership.\u201d<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Her keynote provided a comprehensive view of how <strong>Vietnam is advancing gender equality<\/strong> at national and local levels, while highlighting the crucial role of women as community leaders and agents of sustainable change.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:image {\"id\":500,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" class=\"wp-image-500\" src=\"http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-1024x682.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/leadhership.vgu.edu.vn\/leadhership\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/HAO_0026-2048x1364.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p><!-- \/wp:image --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f30d.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf0d\" \/> Gender Equality \u2013 A Foundation for Sustainable Development<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Lan began by emphasizing that <strong>Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5)<\/strong> \u2014 <em>Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls<\/em> \u2014 is not just one among 17 goals, but a <strong>cross-cutting foundation<\/strong> for all others.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cGender equality is more than a goal; it is a precondition for a better world,\u201d<br \/>she quoted from UN Women (2022).<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>She presented global statistics showing progress in education and representation but also persistent gaps: women earn 23% less than men globally and hold less than 25% of parliamentary seats.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f1fb-1f1f3.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\uddfb\ud83c\uddf3\" \/> Vietnam\u2019s Progress and Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Vietnam stands out as one of the leading countries in Asia in promoting gender equality in education and political representation.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>30% of National Assembly seats<\/strong> are held by women \u2014 one of the highest rates in the region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Women\u2019s labor participation rate<\/strong> remains high, at nearly 69%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Women own about <strong>28% of businesses nationwide<\/strong>, reflecting increasing engagement in entrepreneurship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Yet, as Dr. Lan pointed out, <strong>barriers persist<\/strong> \u2014 including cultural norms, limited access to finance, and underrepresentation in senior leadership positions<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f3db.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\udfdb\ufe0f\" \/> Localizing SDG 5 in Vietnam<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Lan detailed how Vietnam has integrated SDG 5 into its <strong>National Strategy on Gender Equality (2021\u20132030)<\/strong>. This framework guides both <strong>national and provincial action plans<\/strong>, ensuring gender perspectives are embedded in policies across sectors.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Local authorities, Women\u2019s Unions, and development partners such as <strong>UNDP, UN Women, and Oxfam Vietnam<\/strong> are key drivers of implementation. Examples include:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Women-led cooperatives in Hue<\/strong> promoting sustainable farming and community leadership;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Digital inclusion programs<\/strong> in Hanoi and Da Nang empowering women entrepreneurs;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Microfinance and training projects<\/strong> improving rural women\u2019s economic resilience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f4aa.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udcaa\" \/> Challenges and Next Steps<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Despite impressive progress, Dr. Lan highlighted several challenges:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Persistent <strong>gender pay gaps (13\u201329%)<\/strong>, especially in rural areas;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Underrepresentation<\/strong> in senior decision-making roles;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Limited funding and monitoring<\/strong> capacity for local gender plans;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><!-- wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Continued <strong>gender-based violence<\/strong> and social expectations restricting leadership roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Her call to action was clear:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need stronger data, enforcement, and partnerships to make gender equality real at every level \u2014 from national policy to neighborhood action.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/16.0.1\/svg\/1f331.svg\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf31\" \/> Empowering Women, Empowering Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Lan concluded with an inspiring message that resonated with the Summit\u2019s theme:<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>\u201cEmpowering one woman empowers an entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Her talk reminded participants that <strong>localizing SDG 5 is a collective effort<\/strong> \u2014 requiring collaboration between government, academia, civil society, and young leaders.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Through data, stories, and real examples, Dr. Lan demonstrated how empowering women is not just about fairness \u2014 it\u2019s about <strong>building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Vietnam<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Women Leading Local Change: Turning SDG 5 into Action in Vietnam At the LeadHerShip Young Professional Summit 2025, held on October 11\u201312 in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. \u0110\u1eb7ng Th\u1ecb Ng\u1ecdc Lan, Lecturer at the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), delivered an insightful presentation on \u201cThe Role of Women in Localizing SDG 5: Empowering Gender Equality Through 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