1.2.3. The State Bank of Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, other ministries and branches concerned, further develop credit and foreign assistance schemes for women, particularly, the policy on providing, from different sources and in various forms, credits to poor women through collateral trust by the Women's Union; conduct research and propose credits policy to improve the living conditions of the people (e.g. housing, living facilities) with special priority given to women entitled to special treatment policies, poor women, single and disabled women.

1.2.4. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, other ministries and branches concerned, organise vocation training and retraining for female workers, especially in rural areas.

1.2.5. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with other ministries and branches concerned, conduct research on the priority of investments into sectors having high number of women labourers (such as education, health care, tourism, culture, trade and agriculture).

1.3.1. The Governmental Personel - Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, other ministries, branches and local authorities concerned, organise training courses to promote gender awareness, especially for men and high-ranking managers.

The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, other ministries and branches concerned, organise training courses to equip officers in charge of plan-making and implementation in all sectors and at all levels with gender knowledge.

1.3.2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, various ministries and branches concerned, strengthen the gender perspective while implementing the National Program of Poverty Alleviation and Hunger Eradication and other development programs.

1.3.3. The General Statistic Office shall, in collaboration with other ministries and branches concerned, ensure the collection and supply of statistic data on socio-economic issues, labour force, poverty situation in order to analyse and evaluate from gender perspective.

1.3.4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with other ministries, branches and local authorities concerned, introduce the gender equity perspective and gender-planning into policy-making and economic development in all branches and at all levels.

1.3.5. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with the National Centre of Social Sciences and Humanity, other ministries and branches concerned, conduct research to evaluate the impact on women by the existing macro-economic policies and development strategy.

1.3.6. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas, other ministries and branches concerned, develop socio-economic programs and projects to assist women from ethnic minorities in the highlands, remote areas, and single or disabled women and house head women.

1.3.7. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with social and mass organisations, maintain and promote the movements "Women's mutual Help in Household Economy" and "Day of Savings for Women".

Objective 2: Create equal opportunities for women in education, training and in improving their educational level in all areas

2.1.1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with other ministries, branches and local authorities concerned, complete the universalisation of primary education among women throughout the country, of junior secondary education in urbanities, key economic and other affordable areas; make concrete plans on universalisation of primary education for women in the highlands, remore areas, as well as border and islands areas.

2.1.2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with other ministries and branches concerned and local authorities , formulate and implement a program of illiteracy eradication suitable for women labourers; co-operate with and enhance the role of social and mass organisations and border guard units in eradicating illiteracy and coping with reilliteration among women, especially in the highlands, remote and grassroots areas.

2.1.3. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, conduct active communication and information activities among the population, especially in the highlands, remote and religious areas, in order to cope with the deliberation of parents who do not allow their girl-children's schooling.

2.2.1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with other ministries and branches concerned, reinforce the socialisation of education; expand the network and diversify training subjects and methodologies (e.g. develop forms of remote training) in order to attract more female students.

2.2.2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the State Bank of Vietnam, other ministries and branches concerned, improve the admission policy at all levels of education towards an expanded input and increased number of female students, and, at the same time, with ensured quality output; conduct research on a privileged system of grades for female students from remote, mountainous and islands areas during admission; conduct research on loans with preferential interest for female students in universities, colleges and vocational training schools.

2.2.3. The Ministry of Planing and Investment shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, other ministries and branches concerned, continue to make investments in order to have a vocational training centre for women, at first, in every province, and then in every district; make every efforts to enrol 50% female students in vocational and job training institutions; and give priority to early investments to establish vocational training centres for women in mountainous and coastal districts and fishing villages.

2.2.4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, other ministries and branches concerned, reinforce post-graduate training and continued education for women civil servants.

2.2.5. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, other ministries and branches concerned, provide women with economic, legal and administration knowledge to enable them to have access to the policy-making process and the state management, particularly in the education and training branch.

2.2.6. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Ministry of Education and Training, other ministries and branches concerned, set up talented Women Supporting Funds in order to encourage women in learning and doing research, to support timely excellent female students and those facing difficulties.

2.2.7. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with Ministries and branches concerned and social and mass organisations, encourage women in general and women in agencies, institutions and enterprises in particular to actively participate in training and retraining.

2.2.8. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union and the Ministry of Education and Training, intensify control and supervision activities of the enforcement of policies on training related to women, particularly female labourers.

2.2.9. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, timely provide consultance and make recommendations for improving policies and laws concerning women working in education and training branch, particularly conduct research on the policy of privileges for female teachers in remote mountainous areas and islands and adopt appropriate policies applied to teachers in pre-school sector.

2.2.10. The Ministry of Finance shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, the Ministry of Education and Training, ministries and branches concerned, conduct research and make policy proposals aimed at ensuring the budget and different resources for training and retraining female workers.

Objective 3: Improve health care for and protection of women and children

3.1.1. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, other ministries and branches concerned, develop and implement programs with the goals of improving health care services for women and children; continue to develop projects on health care and mobilise women to participate in these projects.

3.1.2. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, ministries and branches concerned, localities and mass organisations, actively implement programs on primary health care, expanded immunisation and malnutrition prevention with special attention given to women and children.

3.1.3. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the Sports and Physical Exercise Committee, disseminate information and knowledge on improving health care, nutrition, preventing diseases, especially the pan epidemic HIV/AIDS, environment sanitation and clean water.

3.1.4. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, organise training courses for teachers at primary schools to provide them with health care knowledge so as to participate in primary health care programs.

3.1.5. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, localities and mass organisations, give guidance and organise the people's movement for maternal and child health care, conduct survey and research on the actual health status of women and children, facilitate women to consult a health care practitioner periodically with priority given to women in remote and isolated areas and women of ethnic minority and disadvantaged groups.

3.1.6. The Sports and Physical Exercise Committee shall, in collaboration with mass organisations, push up the people's movement on physical training and take appropriate measures to attract 8 to 10 % of women to participate.

3.1.7. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, work out plans of the contingent of women cadres and leaders in the medical branch at all levels.

3.1.8. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, improve particular policies and regimes for labour in the medical branch with special attention given to female workers.

3.2.1. The National Committee on Population and Family Planning shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Culture and Information, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, intensify information, education and communication activities for all people with special attention given to people in remote areas and islands and encourage them to implement the Program on Population and Family Planning.

3.2.2. The Ministry of Education and Planning shall, in collaboration with the National Committee on Population and Family Planning, Ministry of Public Health, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, include subjects of population and gender education and public health in school curriculum that suit specific groups and areas and set up an exclusive program for the girl-child and young women.

3.2.3. The National Committee on Population and Family Planning shall, in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry, strengthen and upgrade the network of family planning services at villages and hamlets; ensure the provision of safe, convenient and effective family planning facilities in order to meet women's needs in various areas.

3.2.4. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the National Committee on Population and Family Planning, work out and implement a reproductive health program, including prevention of anaemia during pregnancy and gynaecological disease; and ensure that every woman receive gynaecological checks twice a year paid by the employers of female labour.

3.2.5. The Public Health Ministry shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, actively develop programs on prevention and fight against HIV/AIDS, prostitution and drug abuse that badly affect the health of both women and men.

3.2.6. The National Committee on Population and Family Planning shall, in collaboration with social and mass organisations, intensify encouraging men to take family planning measures in order to share the responsibility with women.

3.3.1. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, conduct studies and recommend adjustment made to the list of occupations where the employment of female labour is forbidden; gradually move female workers from occupational positions that are dangerous or make them vulnerable to occupational diseases; and practise safe use of insecticide in agriculture.

3.3.2. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Investment, conduct research and make policy proposals on increasing funds for labour safety equipment, material support and treatment of occupational diseases detrimental to health or lives of women; reduce medical fees for poor women at hospitals.

3.3.3. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the State Inspection and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, intensify inspection activities on the enforcement of policies related to female labour and working safety at enterprises employing female workers.

3.3.4. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Planning and Investment, ministries and branches concerned, improve labour conditions for women; enforce medical insurance regulations, medical check and treatment of occupational diseases for 100 percent of women labourers; give special attention to the enforcement of labour protection regulations, labour and environment sanitation.

3.3.5. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry, ministries and branches concerned, conduct research and make recommendations for reducing occupational diseases among women.

Objective 4: Enhance the role and position of women in leadership mechanisms and decision-making.

Objective to the year 2000: Increase the capability, promote equal rights of women in leadership and management to meet the requirement of national industrialisation and modernisation, contributing to enhancing women's role and positions in the society; build the contingent of qualified women cadres.

- Elected bodies at all levels should have 20% to 30% of women cadres,

- The government and consultation body at different levels must have 15% to 20% of women cadres,

- Those Ministries and branches with a women majority must have women leaders,

- Agencies and enterprises in which 30% or more workers are women, must have woman as the head or the second head,

4.1.1. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, promote awareness of women's rights and management capability, the understanding of gender perspectives and the importance of women's full and equal participation in decision-making in all aspects of social life and in the family.

4.1.2. The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, conduct surveys and statistics on the situation of women cadres serving as basis for building the contingent of women cadres, and plan for their training and education to the year 2000 and beyond, with special attention given to creating resource of women cadres among women of ethnic minority and young women according to the Directive No. 37-CT/TW dated 16 May 1994 by the Secretariat of the Central Party Committee on Issues Concerning Women Cadres under the New Circumstances.

4.1.3. The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, ensure that there are women leaders in organisational and personnel departments of ministries, branches, mass organisations and local authorities.

4.1.4. The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, ministries and branches concerned, plan to train and employ young women cadres chosen among female students at colleges and active young girls at production establishments in accordance with what they have been trained for.

4.2.1. The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, provide consultancy and propose policies and regimes on the training of and provision of comprehensive knowledge to female cadres and officials, first of all, on the political guidelines, the state management, the management of socio-economic affairs in order to enable them to raise their capability to meet the demand of a new period of accelerating national industrialisation and modernisation.

4.2.2. The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, plan to provide comprehensive knowledge, especially the state management, socio-economic management, laws, professionalism and other necessary knowledge to women leaders and cadres as well as women nominees for elected institutions.

4.3.1. All ministries, branches, social and mass organisations, local authorities, leaders of administrative bodies, training and research institutions, cultural and art establishments and state enterprises, bear the responsibility for planning the contingent of women cadres in their respective agencies; arranging and employing women cadres according to their capacity in order to enable them to well accomplish their tasks.

4.3.2. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, identify qualified women and introduce them to leadership positions at all levels, branches, elected bodies and in party organisations.

4.3.3. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, ministries and branches concerned, educate women cadres staff about the spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance and progress and fight against narrow-sighted perspectives among women.

Objective 5: Protect and promote women's rights and facilitate women's participation in social activities

5.1.1. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, actively disseminate the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), laws and policies concerning to women.

5.1.2. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, provide legal knowledge to all social strata and leaders at all levels in order to raise their responsibility for the protection of women's rights.

5.1.3. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Women's Union, mnistries and branches concerned and local authorities, exercise periodical monitoring and supervising activities over the enforcement of laws and policies related to women.

5.1.4. The People's Supreme Court shall, in collaboration with the People's Supreme Procuracy, severely penalise acts of violence and maltreatment against women, sex abuse of child, prostitution sale and purchase, raping, storing, using and making profits from pornography products.

5.1.5. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, complete laws and regulations on women's rights and introduce strict measures to punish violations of such rights.

5.2.1. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Voice of Vietnam Radio and the Vietnam Television, mobilise people to use mass media at large to denounce acts of violence and attract public opinion to cases of violation of women's and girl-children's dignity and body.

5.2.2. The State Inspection shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, organise the settlement of all petitions and accusations on acts of violation of women's rights, interest and dignity.

5.2.3. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Public Health, ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, develop programs on the prevention of social evils with special attention given to women; work out effective measures to minimise their impacts on women.

5.2.4. The Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Vietnam Committee on Children's Care and Protection, timely identify acts of violence against women and girl-children, at the same time, offer material and spiritual supports to women subject to maltreatment and violence and help them find satisfactory and long-term solutions.

5.2.5. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, eliminate all backward customs and bad practices that violate women's rights, and educate people on the compassion and respect for women.

5.2.6. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, build and upgrade professional training centres, and provide jobs for women who are victims of social evils.

5.2.7. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, enhance the quality and increase the number of activities carried our by the Consultation Centres for women (on family affairs, on child raising...)

5.2.8. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Children�s Care and Protection, bring into full play the role of the Women's Unions at all levels in monitoring and supervising all trials relating to the violations of women's and girl-child's rights by the law.

5.2.9. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the People�s Supreme Court and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, improve the capability of the People's Women Jury in Courts at all levels in order to make more effective contributions to the trials' judgements.

Actions to be taken:

5.3.1. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, encourage and create favourable conditions for women to participate more actively in the community and social activities.

5.3.2. All people's and mass organisations shall play an active role in increasing the number of women members, and work out appropriate activity programmes for women members.

Objective 6: Enhance the role of the family

6.1. Develop families that carry the Vietnamese traditional and cultural characteristics with the norms of "prosperity, equality, progress, and happiness."

6.1.1. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Education and Training, and community-based organisations, intensify information, education and communication activities of and educate people on the role of the family in the society and the role of each individual in the family, preserve the fine customs of Vietnamese family; intensify propaganda activities and educate people in enhancing the awareness of women on their roles and responsibilities in defending, preserving and building up their family.

6.1.2. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, generate the movements of building up cultured families, encourage households to register and strive for the honourable title "family of culture" develop villages of culture in all localities.

6.1.3. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, implement policies relating to family affairs such as policy to give privileges to individuals and households who made great contribution to the Revolution, or to families of war invalids, revolutionary martyrs, to the Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, or policy of supporting single or handicapped women and widows.

6.1.4. The National Committee on Population and Family Planning shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Public Health and local authorities, continue the implementation of the policy on population and family planning, and pursue policies of appropriate incentives for households that seriously implement the policy of population and family planning.

6.2.1. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries and branches concerned, extensively disseminate all laws relating to women and family affairs among community.

6.2.2. The People�s Supreme Court shall, in collaboration with the People�s Supreme Procuracy, provide guidelines for lower-level people�s courts and people�s inspectorates so that cases of violation of the Law on Marriage and Family should be subjected to severe punishments (especially those cases of child marriages, or violating the system of monogamy, cases of maltreatment in the family or of incest).

6.2.3. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with mass and social organisations, maintain and develop local groups that exercise reconciliation that help prevent divorces and bring back family happiness; and take effective measures to support women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

6.2.4. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the National Centre of Social Science and Humanity, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries and branches concerned, study the grounds of the existing legal system relating to family affairs and make suggestions for amendments when and where necessary.

6.3. Support women in fulfilling their responsibility as wife and mother in the family.

6.3.1. The Central Vietnam Women's Union, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Public Health, the National Committee for Children�s Care and Protection and mass organisations, educate people on the spirit of sharing responsibility among members of the family, especially on the role and responsibility of husband and father; equip women and other members in the family with knowledge and the art of organising family life, provide information on nutrition, knowledge in taking care of the children, health care, and diseases prevention, and setting up of family medicine chests.

6.3.2. The Ministry of Trade shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, develop a network of public services so as to facilitate housework, thus helping to economise time and energy for women.

6.3.3. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, promote and support movements carried out by the Vietnam Women's Unions and Women's Affairs Section in the General Confederation of Labour at asll levels aimed at encouraging and supporting women to fulfil their responsibility as wife and mother.

6.3.4. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, study and disseminate information on family issues, and on the role of women in the family.

6.3.5. The State Institute for Competition and Awards shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, study policies on granting awards to families whose children become young talents.

Objective 7: Develop the role of women in the management of the environment and natural resources, contributing to the sustainable development and the improvement of the living environment.

7.1.1. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Education and Training and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, provide people, including women, with necessary information on the issues of natural resources, environment and environment protection.

7.1.2. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, other ministries and branches concerned and Local authorities, encourage more and more women to participate in the protection of clean living environment and natural resources, especially in examining and supervising environmental management throughout the country.

Actions to be taken:

7.2.1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, ministries and branches concerned and local authorities, implement the National Program on Clean Water and Environmental Sanitation in Rural Areas; provide adequate fuel to unload domestic affairs for women.

7.2.2. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, encourage women and people in general to build, use and maintain hygienic facilities, protect and take good care of the environment, and of individual sanitation.

7.2.3. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall organise training courses on communication and propaganda skills on environmental sanitation for key motivators of Women Unions at all levels, and for motivators in general.

Objective 8 : Intensify information, education and communication activities aiming to enhance the awareness of equal rights between men and women.

8.1.1. the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Voice of Vietnam Radio and the Vietnam Television, promote IEC activities and education programs on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Global Platform for Action for the Advancement of Women and the Development Strategy for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women by the Year 2000.

8.1.2. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, the Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, intensively and extensively carry out broad IEC activities on gender equality within the society.

8.1.3. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, include the gender issue into the curriculum of all education and training establishments in all branches and at all levels.

8.1.4. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, study the increase of the quality and the quantity of programs and themes on women in the mass media.

8.1.5. The Ministry of Culture and Information, the Vietnam Television and the Voice of Vietnam Radio shall bear the responsibility for the accurate and full mass media coverage of the role and position of women in society and in family; and forbid commercialising the image of women in the mass media.

8.1.6. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, organise training courses so as to improve the gender awareness of journalists and staff-members of communication organisations.

8.1.7. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Vietnam Television, the Voice of Vietnam Radio, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, other ministries and branches concerned, make plans on IEC activities to reduce and finally eliminate all forms of superstitious practices.

8.2.1. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam Television and the Voice of Vietnam Radio, develop networks and information programs at all levels and create favourable conditions for women to have access to and participate more intensively in information activities.

8.2.2. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department , make policies on training for, and improving the quality and the quantity of women journalists, thus increasing the percentage of women's participation in the management and leadership of communication organisations at all levels.

8.2.3. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, improve the quality of broadcasting programs on women on television, radio as well as news on women in newspapers and magazines.

8.2.4. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Television and the Voice of Vietnam Radio, promote information exchanges within the country, and among countries in the region and in the world as well with a view to enriching information on women.

Objective 9: Contribute to the preserving and strengthening of peace

9.1. Encourage women to actively participate in the activities for peace and national defence.

Actions to be taken:

9.1.1. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the voice of Vietnam, Vietnam Television and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, improve the awareness of all citizens, including women, of peace issues and revolutionary vigilance, of national security defence for national construction towards the goal of "wealthy people, a powerful country, a just and civilised society."

9.1.2. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence, encourage and create favourable conditions for women and social organisations dealing with women's work to actively participate in the movements for national security defence and for peace; to have access to and take part in national and international activities for peace; encourage women to speak out their perspectives and political opinion, take part in the reconciliation process and in conflict management, to discuss and make policy decisions on security and national defence issues.

9.1.3. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, finalise all policies applied for women who serve in the army, or as military workers, policewomen, volunteer youths during the national anti-American struggle, in order to ensure their rights and interests, thus contributing to the cause of peace and national security defence.

9.1.4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, broaden friendship co-operation between Vietnamese women and women of countries in the region and in the world.

9.2.1. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, offer supports to women and children patients who suffer the war consequences.

9.2.2. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social affairs shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, the National Committee for the Children's Care and Protection and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, pay due attention to the settlement of all war consequences, support women and children who are victims of the war and violence, help them integrate into the community, thus ensuring them a stable life; take good care of women who are alone due to the war consequences, ensure them a stable life as they get aged .

Objective 10: Enhance the capacity of the National machinery for the advancement of Vietnamese women.

Target: All ministries, branches, provinces and cities directly under the central authority shall have Committees for the advancement of women.

- The Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, ministries and branches concerned and localities, regularly consolidate and strengthen the machinery and mechanism of activities by the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and Committees for the advancement of women of various ministries, branches, provinces and cities directly under the central authority.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women shall, in collaboration with the Governmental Personnel-Organisation Department, ministries and branches concerned and localities, continue to provide guidance for the formulation of the machinery and activities of Committees for the advancement of women (where applicable ).

The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, provide gender knowledge for all cadres working for the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and Committees for the advancement of women of various ministries, branches and provinces and cities directly under the central authority.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned and localities, be responsible for maintaining the regular activities of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam and Committees for the advancement of women of various ministries, branches and provinces and cities directly under the central authority.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with Committees for the advancement of women of various ministries, branches and provinces and cities directly under the central authority, work out long-term action plans, annual and quarterly implementation plans.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, intensify IEC activities about laws and policies on women.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall have the task of conducting periodical monitoring and supervision of the implementation of laws, policies and action plans for the advancement of women.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall organize annual review and initiate various forms of proper incentives for units and individuals that have accorded many achievements in activities for the advancement of women.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the National Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities, the General Statistics Office and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, implement programs on the study and collection of documents and information on women.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, develop international co-operation on women.

- The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for the ensured provision of annual funds for activities of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam in pursuant to the spirit of Decision No. 72/TTg dated 25 February 1993 by the Prime Minister.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with ministries, branches and localities, intensify the work of encouraging the people, international organisations, non-governmental and humanitarian organisations to make financial contributions to programs and projects for the advancement of women.

10.2.1 The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall continue to enhance the capacity and renovate the content and mode of operations of the Union.

10.2.2. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall continue intensifying the work of consultation and supervision with various government levels, ministries and branches, and participate in the making of policies concerning women.

10.2.3. The Ministry of Finance shall study and recommend policies to generate more funding for activities by the Vietnam Women's Union.

Women's Unions at various levels shall continue seeking for other funding sources to support their own activity programs.

- The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour shall, in collaboration with ministries, branches and localities, enhance performance capacity of Women's Affairs Sections in the system of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

- The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, provide guidance for social and mass organisations to work out programs of gender-sensitive activities.

- Women's Unions at various levels shall carry out IEC activities and encourage more people to become members.

10.4.1. The General Statistics Office shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries and branches concerned, establish and disseminate gender statistics tables and the implementation of gender statistics work in all branches and at all levels.

10.4.2. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, conduct analysis of the existing legal system from gender perspectives and timely recommend necessary amendments.

10.4.3. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with ministries and branches concerned, consolidate comprehensive gender perspectives in the process of building and implementing socio-economic and cultural development programs and projects.

10.5.1. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries, branches and localities, regularly collect and supplement information related to women.

10.5.2. The National Centre for Social Sciences and Humanity shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, the Central Vietnam Women's Union, ministries, branches and localities, intensify the work of survey and study on women so as to formulate a national system of studies on women.

10.5.3. The Central Vietnam Women's Union shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, focus its study on the following issues:

- Impacts of existing social policies on women.

- Assessment of paid and no-paid labour by women.

- Violence against women and the girl-child.

- Comprehensive survey on disadvantaged women, the labour situation and life of women in mountainous areas.

10.5.4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, study and put forth proposals on investment forms for the enhancement of the capacity of women's research and training bodies.

Objective 11: Protect the girl-child and facilitate her development in all fields.

11.1.1. The National Committee for Children's Care and Protection shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture and Information, extensively disseminate the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Law on Children's Protection, Care and Education, and the State policies relating to the girl-child.

11.1.2. The Ministry of Culture and Information shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training and the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, intensify activities of propaganda and education aimed at changing the perception by various social strata and families of the role and position of the girl-child, fighting against the ideology of "boy preference" in behaving towards the girl-child.

11.1.3. The General Statistics Office shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, organise the study of the girl-child situation and the collection of statistics on the girl-child, ensuring that all statistical figures on children include gender analysis.

11.2.1. The National Committee for Children's Care and Protection shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, ensure the actual practice of all rights of the girl-child as stipulated by the laws.

11.2.2. The People's Supreme Court shall, in collaboration with the People's Supreme Procuracy, impose severe punishment on acts of deliberate violation of the rights of the child in general and of the girl-child in particular.

11.2.3. The National Committee for Children's Care and Protection shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior, conduct IEC activities, create far-reaching public opinion and introduce measures to prevent, overcome all acts of dignity violation against the girl-child such as ill-treatment, beating, child marriage, sexual molest, rape, incest, prostitution and girl-child trafficking.

11.2.4. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, ministries and branches concerned, denounce and apply timely measures to prevent labour abuse and exploitation of children in general and the girl-child in particular; study and recommend preventive policies for adolescent labour, including the girl-child labour.

11.2.5. The National Committee for Children's Care and Protection shall, in collaboration with ministries, branches and localities, monitor and supervise the implementation of policies and laws on the child, especially those on the girl-child.

11.2.6. The Ministry of Justice shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, ministries and branches concerned, conduct studies on modifying the punishment frame imposed on the crime of sexual exploitation against the girl-child.

11.2.7. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training and the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, conduct studies of and recommend policies on job creation for children graduated from school (without pursuing higher education) or on vocational training once they keep going to high secondary school.

11.2.8. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, actively encourage families to heighten the sense of responsibility in management and education of the adolescent, especially the girl-child so that the girl-child will obtain correct perceptions and lead a healthy life avoiding negative effects of social evils.

11.3.1. The Ministry of Education and Training shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection and localities, complete the universalisation of primary education for the girl-child between 6-14 years of age.

11.3.2. The Ministry of Public Health shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection, Ministry of Education and Training and localities, promote health care services, improve nutrition conditions and enhance gender awareness of the girl-child.

11.3.3. The National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection and the Central Vietnam Women's Union, encourage families to facilitate the girl-child's participation in activities by the Youth Union and the Pioneer's Union as well as other social and cultural activities, thereby assisting them to build self-confidence and the sense of community harmony.

11.3.4. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall, in collaboration with the National Committee for Children's Care and Protection and localities, take effective and timely measures to help children of emeritus families, war-invalids or war martyrs parents; the girl-child victimised by social evils, and disable or street girl-children.