Geneva (VNA) – As acandidate for the membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for 2023 - 2025,Vietnam will continue prioritising the commitments to promote gender equalityand women empowerment, an official has said.

Do Hung Viet, Assistant to theVietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks while attending theannual debate on women’s rights at the HRC’s 50th regular session inGeneva on June 27.

In his speech, Viet highlightedthe important role of women, stressing the need to ensuring their rights anddevelopment opportunities through specific and effective support policies.

He also shared Vietnam’sexperience and efforts in this regard, noting Vietnam is one of the countries withthe longest maternity leaves in the world.

Emphasising the country’s priorityfor gender equality promotion and women empowerment, he added Vietnam is readyto cooperate with other countries in these common efforts.

At the debate, participants underlinedthe necessity to build comprehensive and effective policies for ensuring genderequality and rights of women, who are in charge of a huge domestic workload butunpaid or underpaid, which has subsequently affected women’s fullparticipation in economic, social, educational, and healthcare activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this inequality, requiring countries to pay due attention and conductproper settlement during the post-pandemic recovery process, they noted,calling for social security measures to be enhanced and favourable conditions created for workers to temporarily withdraw from the labour market to carefor families and thus ease the burden on women.

Also on June 27, Viet had ameeting with Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) TatianaValovaya.

He noted Vietnam’s supportfor multilateralism to be brought into play in the settlement of the internationalcommunity’s common concerns.

The official affirmed thatthe country will increase its proactive and active participation inmultilateral forums in Geneva, including running for seats in the internationalorganisations and holding events to popularise Vietnam among the diplomaticcommunity here.

Valovaya highly valuedVietnam’s commitment to promoting multilateralism and enhancing the role ofinternational organisations, adding that she is impressed with Vietnamese seniorleaders’ engagement in the events held by UN organisations recently.

The UNOG will continueassisting the country to boost popularising its images as well as cooperationpotential at international organisations in Geneva, she went on, adding thatVietnam’s proactive participation in different aspects will also contribute to culturaldiversification in the organisations’ activities here./.