Talking to the press on the sidelines of the dialogueon addressing GBSS, held both online and offline, Kitahara pointed out the mainfactors that are driving GBSS in Vietnam, including the notion of somepreferences.

Vietnamese people still prefer to have boys to girls, shecontinued, noting that the preference has to be stopped because this is thecontinuation of socio-cultural practice which is not promoting the value of girls.

“Another factor is the availability of technology inVietnam,” she added. “Although the disclosure of the sex of the child isprohibited in Vietnam, still people are able to find out through informal channels.”

The fertility limitation also can drive GBSS,according to the UNFPA Representative.

“It is very important that individuals and couples areable to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing ofhaving children,” she suggested, stressing that it is in line with principlesof the International Conference on Population and Development to which Vietnam isa signatory.

The dialogue on GBSS was jointly held by the GeneralOffice for Population and Family Planning under the Ministry of Health, theUNFPA aꦆnd the Embassy of Norway. It forms part of the project “Addressin❀g genderbiased sex selection and related harmful practices in Asia” funded by the NorwegianAgency for Development (NORAD) from 2020-2022.

Ambassador of Norway Grete Lochen speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: UNFPA)

In her remarks, Ambassador of Norway Grete Lochen saidharmful practices take different forms in different countries, which have impactedthe health of girls and women, robbed them of educational opportunities, andmade it hard for them to take part in society and working life.

“In Vietnam, we are very pleased to work together withUNFPA in addressing gender-biased sex selection and some preferences,” shesaid.

Sharing Norway’s strategy to eliminate harmfulpractices, the ambassador emphasised strengthening data collection andmonitoring by establishing systems that will record vital statistics such as birthsand deaths by gender.

Apart from the reform of laws such as family laws, itis crucial to boost advocacy efforts and raise public awareness, she said, highlightingthe media as an effective actor in this regard.

“Girls deserve to shine,” she stressed, whi♑le expressingher wishes on the occasion of I🦂nternational Women’s Day (March 8).

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

According to the 2019 national population and housingcensus, the sex ratio at birth was 111.5 boys per 100 girls, as compared with thenormal level of 103-106 boys per 100 girls.

Vietnam will have 1.5 million more men than women aged15-49 by 2034, and the number would reach 2.5 million if the sex ratio at birthimbalance remains unaddressed.

In an interview granted to the press, Nguyen Van Anh,Founder and Director of the Centre for Research and Application of Sciences inGender-Family-Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), said both girls and boys shouldhave opportunities to develop happily.

“Women can also gain successes if they face nodiscrimination,” she added. “Men and women should be respected equally.”

Kitahara said, “Vietnam is very aware of the problem ofGBSS and has implemented many measures,” expressing her belꦓief that with jointeffoꩲrts, the above-said harmful practices can be reversed./.