Nations should strengthen cooperation and share their experiences in promoting the role of female National Assembly (NA) deputies to embrace gender equality.

Vietnam’s NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the proposal at a two-day international seminar in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province on July 27 to more than 50 female members of parliament from 10 countries, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Canada, the Republic of Korea, China, Sweden, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as representatives from international organisations.

Phong emhasised the importance of building a gender equality strategy in each country, enhancing the role of female NA deputies in promoting gender equality.

Participants at the seminar discussed advances and challenges in implementing gender equality programmes in parliamentary activities, legal frameworks and other strategies and action plans.

They also talked about issues of global concern, including parliamentary hurdles in promoting gender equality.

Vietnam is one of a number of countries that have a relatively high number of female NA deputies in the region and the world. The expertise of female NA deputies is improving, with an increasing number of those having graduate and post-graduate degrees. There are also several young and ethnic minority NA deputies./.