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As published in vietnamnews on 20 April, 2012

HA NOI — Communities, despite playing a vital role in climate change adaptation, did not have their own voice in major dialogues, prompting a change in the way we should communicate about climate change.

Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, pointed out that although communities were often the first to be affected by natural disasters, very often they were only heard through intermediaries.

She said: "When I met strong communities who have gone through and recovered from serious disaster issues, they told me their biggest concern was how they could impact the policy-making process in their Governments."

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As published in vietnamnews on 02 April, 2012

HA NOI — The United Nations has urged Viet Nam to equate the retirement age for men and women and to elevate women to decision-making positions, since this October the country must submit a report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Speaking at the consultation forum held this past Friday, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan said that Viet Nam had made great progress in promoting gender equality and women's rights, as well as in correcting discriminatory practices in education and employment.

However, challenges remain due to gender inequality, the low status of women in society and violence within the family.

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As published in Nhan Dan Online on 7 March, 2012

Nhan Dan Online – Vietnam always considers empowering rural women and girls important to eradicating hunger and poverty and move further towards sustainable development.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen made the statement at a policy dialogue on gender equality held jointly by the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the National Committee for the Advance of Women in Hanoi this morning to commemorate International Women’s Day.

The policy dialogue, entitled ‘Empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication’, aims to honour the economic, political, and social achievements of Vietnamese women, particularly those from rural areas, and provide policy makers with research and recommendations on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Vietnam for better laws and strategies in the near future.

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As published in VOA on 16 March, 2012 

Photo: Reuters Jose
Graziano da Silva, director-general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2011 file photo).The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is urging countries to follow Vietnam’s example in boosting agricultural production to combat food shortages that can lead to political instability.

Praise

The head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, Jose Graziano da Silva, praised Vietnam’s agricultural policies for combating local hunger and increasing its exports in a region that has long battled chronic hunger.

"Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world that has been increasing exports and also assuring food security locally, and this is crucial for political stability and also for peace," he said.

The Asia Pacific is home to more than  60 percent of the world's people suffering from hunger and malnutrition. The FAO regional conference is focusing on finding sustainable ways to increase production in the face of rising food prices.

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