Vietnamese Female Lawmakers Urged to Strengthen Legislative Role and Remain Close to Voters

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: President of Vietnam’s National Assembly Trần Thanh Mẫn has called on female lawmakers to actively contribute to legislative reforms, strengthen parliamentary oversight, promote gender equality and make greater use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in parliamentary activities.

He made these remarks at a ceremony held in Hanoi on November 5 to launch the Group of Female Deputies of the 16th National Assembly for the 2026–2031 term.

Established under Resolution No. 273/NQ-UBTVQH16, issued by the National Assembly Standing Committee on May 26, 2026, the group comprises 150 members. Its standing board consists of nine members, including one chairwoman, seven vice chairwomen and one secretary.

Addressing the ceremony, Trần Thanh Mẫn highlighted the significant contributions of female lawmakers to legislation, parliamentary supervision and decision-making on major national issues. He noted that women’s representation in the National Assembly had remained above 30 percent during the 14th, 15th and 16th legislatures.

He urged female deputies to embrace innovative legislative approaches, improve the legal framework, address institutional bottlenecks and contribute to mobilising resources for national development. He also emphasised the importance of strengthening solidarity, sharing professional experiences and supporting one another in fulfilling their responsibilities as elected representatives.

The National Assembly President encouraged female lawmakers to conduct comprehensive research into issues concerning women, children, gender equality and women’s professional development, ensuring that their findings contribute to effective policies and legislation.

He also called for greater parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges, particularly through cooperation with foreign parliaments and international organisations, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Highlighting the importance of digital transformation, he encouraged female deputies to utilise artificial intelligence and modern technologies in legislative work, parliamentary oversight and decision-making, while stressing that technology should remain a supporting tool and human capabilities and responsibility must remain central.

In particular, he urged lawmakers to maintain close contact with voters and the public, listen attentively to their concerns and aspirations, and ensure that their views are effectively conveyed during parliamentary discussions, alongside proposing appropriate solutions to relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Vice President Nguyễn Thị Thanh, who also chairs the Group of Female Deputies, said the group would continue improving its activities throughout the 2027 period and the current parliamentary term, with a focus on professional development, experience-sharing and stronger coordination among members.

She added that the group would prioritise initiatives concerning women, children, families and gender equality, while promoting female lawmakers’ contributions to legislation, parliamentary oversight, diplomacy and humanitarian activities, particularly support for orphans and disadvantaged children.

The ceremony underscored the importance of women’s participation in national legislation, governance and public representation in Vietnam.