National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tòng Thị Phóng (Centre)  has highlighted Việt Nam’s achievements in tackling inequality and ensuring justice at the plenary session of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh.– VNA/VNS Photo Huy Bình

DHAKA – National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tòng Thị Phóng has highlighted Việt Nam’s achievements in tackling inequality and ensuring justice at the plenary session of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

However, she said that Việt Nam faced many difficulties such as climate change, limited resources and unequal development among regions.

"As a developing country that is overcoming historical difficulties, Việt Nam is aware of the need for socio-economic development that ensures equality and fairness for all people," the Vice NA Chairwoman said on Monday.

At the session, themed “Redressing inequalities: Delivering on dignity and well-being for all”, Phóng proposed eight recommendations, including the strengthening of the UN in the field, speeding up the implementation of targets in the sustainable development goal 10 in each country and reforming the operation and agenda of multilateral economic, trade and financial organisations to make sure developing countries can raise their voice to global economic-financial institutions.

It is necessary to develop a network connecting regional organisations to respond to non-traditional security matters such as natural disasters, climate change, rising sea levels and pandemics, according to Phóng.

She asked countries to continue enhancing the effectiveness of policy making and national governance to reduce inequality and erase regulations with discrimination.

The NA Vice Chairwoman also called on developed countries to continue supporting developing ones through sharing experience and technology, while encouraging countries to build tools to evaluate inequality.

Parliaments should promote their legislative and regulatory role over the governments and support the fight against inequality, she proposed, asking the IPU to continue strengthening co-operation mechanisms with members in sharing experience.

Việt Nam has reached the majority of the UN Millennium Development Goals with three targets completed ahead of schedule: poverty reduction, primary school universalisation and gender equality promotion and women’s empowerment.

The country has also built a national action plan to implement 17 global sustainable development goals as well as 169 specific goals stated in the 2030 Agenda with detailed measures to realise goal 10 on ensuring equal opportunities and reducing inequality.

Phóng  also noted that the NA  built the 2013 Constitution while completing a legal system with various laws, including the Labour Code, Laws on Health Insurance, Gender Equality, Trade Union, Information Access, Youth, Persons with Disabilities, Children Care and Protection, the Elderly and Beliefs and Religions.

Additionally, the country has issued policies on socio-economic development while improving the living conditions of ethnic minority groups, she said. – VNS