Tô Lâm Calls for New-Term Emulation Campaign at Vietnam Women’s Union 95th Anniversary

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Party General Secretary Tô Lâm on Thursday urged the Việtnam Women’s Union (VWU) to launch a new-term emulation campaign under the theme “Vietnamese Women: Aspiration – Intelligence – Compassion – Creativity – Sustainability – Happiness” during a ceremony marking the organisation’s 95th anniversary.

In his address, the Party chief reaffirmed the commitment of the Party and State to advancing substantive gender equality, while creating broader opportunities for women in leadership, governance, entrepreneurship, and science and technology. He outlined priority policy goals, including expanding social protection, safeguarding women and children, addressing domestic and gender-based violence, curbing online abuse, and strengthening early childhood education, maternity care, reproductive health, and a safe cultural environment.

General Secretary Lâm unveiled a decade-long roadmap for the women’s movement covering 2025–2035, with a vision toward 2045. He envisioned the modern Vietnamese woman as patriotic, resilient, compassionate, digitally savvy, and environmentally conscious, while calling on the VWU to broaden its “Sisterhood” mentoring network and advance initiatives in reading, digital literacy, financial management, and mental health.

Emphasising the importance of digital transformation, he urged every city and province to establish at least one women-led livelihood or cooperative project, and each commune to develop a signature “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) item crafted by women. Early childhood education, nutrition, and child development, he said, must be treated as strategic levers to raise productivity and population quality. He also called for closer collaboration with law enforcement and judicial agencies to combat gender-based violence, trafficking, and cybercrime.

Another key priority is fostering female leadership. The Party chief instructed VWU chapters to set out clear plans to identify, train, and promote women leaders, with a focus on project management, digital competencies, and communication skills. He highlighted the need to cultivate a new generation of female officials ready to embrace responsibility and risks for the benefit of society.

General Secretary Lâm also stressed the importance of preserving Việt Nam’s cultural heritage, including traditional attire such as the long dress, culinary arts, handicrafts, language, and family values. On the international front, he encouraged the VWU to expand ties with women’s movements, international organisations, and networks of female leaders and entrepreneurs worldwide, ensuring Vietnamese women have a stronger voice at regional and global forums on social welfare, gender equality, digitalisation, entrepreneurship, and green development.

To facilitate this vision, Party committees, authorities, the Việt Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organisations, businesses, and society at large were urged to provide comprehensive support through labour policies, maternity benefits, childcare services, housing for workers, and safe, harassment-free workplaces.

At the ceremony, General Secretary Lâm conferred the first-class Labour Order on the VWU in recognition of its outstanding contributions to renewing operations, protecting women’s rights, and contributing to national defence and socialist construction.

The event was attended by senior officials, including Politburo member and President of the Việtnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Đỗ Văn Chiến, and National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Thanh, who jointly presented the 2025 Việtnam Women’s Awards to three collectives. Politburo member Nguyễn Văn Nên and VWU Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Tuyến also honoured 12 individuals.

In addition, the Presidium of the VWU Central Committee awarded certificates of merit to 81 collectives and 255 individuals for their achievements in the 2020–2025 term. Since 2002, the VWU has honoured 107 collectives and 206 individuals across various fields, earning multiple prestigious awards, including two Gold Star Orders, two Hồ Chí Minh Orders, three first-class Independence Orders, and numerous Labour Orders.