[vnforum] UN CEDAW Issues
Charles F. Printz
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[vnforum] - Mesg from "Charles F. Printz" <cfp...@bellatlantic.net>
Dear Colleagues -
A very good friend of mine who is a lawyer directs a University of
Minnesota based international women's project (International Women's
Rights Action Watch) that monitors compliance by UN member states with
the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW). The CEDAW treaty body at an upcoming session will hear a report
from Vietnam on their stated compliance with CEDAW and measures to
redress state sanctioned or encouraged discrimination against women in
all walks of economic, social and political life.
My friend would like to hear from members of the list who are
knowledgeable on in-country conditions in Vietnam and can provide
information a/o insights known to them on Vietnam's actual laws and
culture that directly or indirectly works to discriminate against women.
It is also useful for her to learn of women's groups, "if any exist free
of the government", that are in-country and in a position to comment on
what is known to them on the subject of discrimination. The information
gathered may be provided to the CEDAW treaty body as part of an overall
report.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Best wishes,
S/ Chuck
Charles F. Printz, Deputy Director
& Southeast Asian Affairs Specialist,
Alternate Representative to the United Nations
Human Rights Advocates International, Inc.
c/o Law Offices of Philip H. Teplen, P.L.L.C.
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Vern Weitzel
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[vnforum] - Mesg from Vern Weitzel <wei...@undp.org.vn>
You might start here:
http://www.undp.org.vn/themes/gender/indexv.htm (ABC Fonts)
http://www.undp.org.vn/themes/gender/index.htm (English)
There is also a new project on Trafficking in Women and
Children:
http://www.undp.org.vn/themes/humantrade/index.htm (English)
Gender is a focus of development projects and is supported
by the Government.
I have also seen some excellent material on gender
issues publshed in Viet Nam by Dr Tran Thi Que among others.
Cheers, Vern
--
-------------------------------------------
NOTE: UNDP telephone and fax numbers will
change from 21 October 2000 to:
Tel (84-4) 942-1495 and Fax (84-4) 942-2267
-------------------------------------------
Vern Weitzel (Mr.), Webmanager
<wei...@undp.org.vn> or <webma...@undp.org.vn>
United Nations Development Programme
address: 25-29 Phan Boi Chau; Ha Noi, Viet Nam
postal address:
UNDP Viet Nam One UN Plaza New York, NY 10017 USA
UNDP Viet Nam Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva Switzerland
UNDP Viet Nam GPO Box 618 Bangkok, 10501 Thailand
tel: +84-4 825-7495 (ext 135) fax: +84-4 825-9267
http://www.undp.org.vn and http://www.un.org.vn
home address: Apartment 504, Block A4 Giang Vo
[opposite UN Int. School] tel: +84-4 846-1751
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PLEASE: If I don't answer soon, send your email
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Tran Dinh Hoanh
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[vnforum] - Mesg from Tran Dinh Hoanh <hoa...@erols.com>
Dear Charles, Vern and All,
Thanks, Vern, for replying to Charles's question.
Charles, you mention women organizations "if any exist free of government."
I am afraid that there is'nt any organization that can be said "free of
government" in Vietnam at this time. We hope that independent NGOs will
come into existence now that Vietnam has a new law governing NGOs, but given
Vietnam's contemporary history, it will take a while.
In the meantime, many international NGOs work on women issues in Vietnam and
of course, they are independent from the Vietnamese government. They may be
available to comment on women issues for you. From information that Dr.
Vern Weitzel has given, I think you may get somewhere.
I understand that you would want to hear from independent voices for cross
checking purposes, which is a very professional approach. And I
whole-heartedly support that approach. I just want to make a note here that
based on my personal talks with many of my friends who are women leaders in
gender equality issue in Vietnam (most of them are government officials,
many are in the Women Union leadership), I would say the Vietnamsese women
leaders are very intelligent, aggressive and serious on gender equality
issue. And if I hear a report from them, I would not be very concerned
about intentional polishing, although they do work for the government and
their report is supposed to be on the government's behalf.
Hope that this observation helps a little.
Have a great day, Charles, Vern, and All.
Hoanh