Gender and Development

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p. 20 of 35 BACK | NEXT Bangladesh Cambodia Fiji Lao People's Republic Pakistan Viet Nam Supporting the Preparation of the Law on Gender Equality, TA 4453, 2004 Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development, TA 4452, 2004 Gender Strategy in Agriculture and Rural Development to the Year 2010 - October 2003 Gender Plan of Action in Agriculture and Rural Development to the Year 2005 - October 2003 Gender Strategy and Implementation Plan for Agriculture and Rural Development TA No. AOTA 3831 VIE - February 2002 Indonesia Philippines Malaysia Nepal

Viet Nam

Supporting the Preparation of the Law on Gender Equality

TA 4453 - 2004

The Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (CPRGS) of Viet Nam, identifies insufficient access to the law and protection of women's rights, as one of the causes poverty. As powerlessness and vulnerability are significant factors of non-income poverty, the CPRGS gives emphasis to the empowerment of women and for improving their access to legal information and the judicial system. Against this background, the fourth meeting of the National Assembly in 2003, adopted a resolution to draft and promulgate a Law on Gender Equality was adopted. In support of this, ADB approved a technical assistance (TA) on 26 November 2004 to assist the Government in developing a Law on Gender Equality with a view to reduce poverty and inequality based on gender.

The purpose of the TA is to support the Government to develop a law on gender equality with a view to reducing poverty and inequality based on gender. The TA's specific objectives are to:

• Facilitate the process of gender mainstreaming in drafting and amending legislation
• Build gender-sensitive legal institutions, and (iii) enhance gender awareness in the legal institutions
• Enhance gender awareness in the legal system

The TA has three components:

1. a diagnostic analysis which includes a review of documents and reports on gender equality in legal systems including existing laws on gender equality, its implementation and enforcement systems in countries that have enacted such laws and a stakeholder consultation to further share the results and findings of the review
2. drafting of the law on gender equality which will include activities such as the identification of the key issues to be addressed by the law and expert support to the Working Group responsible for defining the format, content and drafting of the law
3. awareness raising and public advocacy activities designed and implemented to improve women's legal literacy and better awareness of the role of judiciary, administrative and law enforcement agencies before and after the Law on Gender Equality is promulgated

The expected output of the TA will be

1. a draft comprehensive law on gender equality that will support the repealing of gender-biased and conflicting laws and regulations
2. development of suggested gender-sensitive systems and procedures
3. increased gender-awareness by the judiciary, law enforcement, administrative personnel, and the legal profession
4. enhanced legal literacy of the poor, especially women

The enactment of the gender equality law will support the reduction of both income and non-income poverty by

1. ensuring gender-equal access to assets, land property, finance, and business registration
2. strengthening pro-poor and inclusive good governance

Broad participation of stakeholders in the law drafting process, public consultation after the drafting stage, and a public awareness and advocacy campaign after the law is proclaimed will improve the poor and women's legal awareness and knowledge.

Evaluation of the outcomes will be integrated into the Government's periodic reports to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the annual report of the National Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women.

The Viet Nam's Women Union will be the Executing Agency for the TA.

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