HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Thursday committed to further strengthening cooperation in enhancing the understanding of gender norms and behaviours for male and female officers in foreign services.

The announcement was made at the Forum on Women’s Empowerment in the Foreign Service in the Digital Age in Hà Nội.

During the forum, participants examined strategies to help women develop leadership skills set in diplomacy, and promote women’s meaningful participation and voice in all decision-making and management as a means of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

They looked at the issues facing women diplomats in both countries and reviewed where efforts to empower women have worked and the challenges that lie ahead.

Those taking part also exchanged views on how to harness opportunities and respond to the challenges associated with digitalisation for women in the foreign service, sharing experiences on how to provide women with the skills sets needed to thrive in the digital era in the 21st century.

MOFA and DFAT committed to continue building stronger networks and strengthening ties between female diplomats. Both sides look forward to further promoting women’s empowerment in the Foreign Service, deepening bilateral ties and to closer cooperation in multilateral fora on gender equality and other issues of common concern, especially when
Việt Nam takes on the role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

The forum took place amid an era of accelerated realisation of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as part of the on-going global efforts to fight inequalities and not leave anyone behind.

The year of 2020 marks the 75th year of the Charter of the United Nations, the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls.

As part of this global movement, the forum provided a platform for both sides and partners to share experiences in achieving gender equality, tackle prevailing gender bias, identify the policies needed and set priorities for actions to promote women’s empowerment in the foreign service in the digital age.

Participants agreed that expanding women’s empowerment and embedding gender equality were critical to the success of, and economic growth in, both countries.

They assessed the impacts of digital economy as well as the new requirements of digital diplomacy.

The forum commended the two sides for their efforts and achievements in bridging the gender gap and promoting women’s empowerment over the years.

On 12 June 2019, Phạm Bình Minh, Deputy Prime Minister of Việt Nam, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon Marise Payne, Senator of Australia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the empowerment of women in the foreign service for comprehensive and extensive international integration in the digital age, thus strengthening cooperation between the two Ministries and contributing to deepened Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and Australia. — VNS