Give Her an Opportunity
A Forum to raise the voice of Vietnam’s women
Around Vietnam, individuals and civil society organisations are starting to have a greater say in the decisions that affect the country as a whole. Despite this movement towards greater political participation, however, not all voices are equal. Women, minorities, and the disabled are often underrepresented in public discourse and their needs and views are sidelined by those with louder voices.
This September, the Give Her a Voice Forum will bring together leaders and staff from over 20 civil society organisation, along with government representatives, local and international NGOs, embassies and the media to share ideas and experiences on improving the lives and position of Vietnam’s women.
The Forum is an initiative of the Vietnam Women Improving Lives and Leadership (WILL) Project, a two-year US Department of State-supported program working to build the capacity of key civil society and public agencies to advocate for the needs of women in the fields of health, education, disability, and economic development.
Since October 2014, the WILL project has focused on improving the capacity of key mobilizers, such as women leaders, civil society organisations, and government agencies in Hanoi and Hoa Binh Province, who have an important role to play in promoting and strengthening women’s rights and participation in conflict prevention, transitional processes, and decision-making.
“By bringing together civil society organizations and women leaders who have been trained under the WILL project, and giving them the chance to engage in dialogue directly with government and other stakeholders, we believe this forum can have a real impact on advancing gender equity in Vietnam.”
The Forum will feature a range of short films and other contributions from participants on key issues facing Vietnamese women, followed by an open discussion and dialogue between civil society organizations, government representatives, and other local and international expert delegates.
“After more than one year of working with local organisations to strengthen their capacity to conduct community outreach, facilitate dialogue, and identify grievances for action, as well as to effectively mobilize, organize, and advocate on behalf of their constituencies, this Forum will provide a concrete chance for them to advocate for concrete policy change and action,” Ms. Phan Kieu Anh said.
The Give Her a Voice Forum will take place at Hanoi Club Hotel, 76 Yen Phu street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi, from 16:00 to 19:00 on September 22nd, 2015.
