HE Ambassador David Devine: “Strong Women - Strong World”

With the slogan “Strong Women, Strong World”, HE David Devine wanted to highlight the progress in gender equality and celebrate the achievements of women. Each year Canada chooses a theme for International Women’s Day. Canada’s 2015 International Women’s Day theme was “Strong Women. Strong Canada. Strong World. Advancing Economic Opportunity for All”. The focus of this theme is the indispensable everyday contribution of women to the domestic and global economy. The theme highlights the importance of ensuring that all women have the opportunity to contribute to prosperity, whether as employees, professionals, business leaders or entrepreneurs.

Meeting scene (Photo: Tran Minh)

Canada recognizes that gender equality is a fundamental human right. Canada is leading a global effort – the Muskoka Initiative – to reduce maternal and infant mortality and improve maternal and child health in the world’s poorest countries. In Vietnam, the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and other funding sources have supported efforts to prevent domestic violence and human trafficking in several provinces. Last October, the Canada Fund collaborated with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hanoi to organize a photo exhibition on reproductive health, newborns, and children entitled “Save Every Woman, Save Every Child,” and drew attention to the specific challenges facing girls and women around the world.

HE Ambassador David Devine presents (Photo: Tran Minh)

According to the Ambassador, Vietnam should be proud of the great progress in the field of women’s rights and the positive results that have been achieved. Specifically, Vietnam has examples such as Kim Thuy, a Vietnamese-Canadian writer, born in Ho Chi Minh City and currently living in Quebec, Canada. Her first work, “Ru,” tells the story of her own family when they immigrated to Canada. They overcame limitations to achieve outstanding achievements in their careers and are people who have made many contributions to both Canada and the world.

HE Ambassador David Devine took a souvenir photo with Associate Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh and the Faculty of International Studies(Photo: Tran Minh)

Finally, the Ambassador urges us to join together in strengthening our commitment to a future free from gender-based violence and discrimination, and a world in which girls and women enjoy true equality.

Student Nguyen Thu Ha (K57, International Studies) asked HE Ambassador David Devine a question (Photo: Tran Minh)

After the presentation, students from the Faculty of International Studies discussed with HE Ambassador David Devine many issues related to women and women's rights such as the protection of women in Canada against domestic violence and discrimination, policies supporting the LGBT community in Canada, steps to promote women's rights today and future prospects, the different roles between modern and feudal women as well as between urban and rural women...