Cuong Vietnan Gender Swm

Regional Training on Gender Equality in UEM

28-30 March 2005, UP Diliman, QC, Philippines 1

REGIONAL TRAINING ON GENDER EQUALITY IN UEMREGIONAL TRAINING ON GENDER EQUALITY IN UEMCollege of Social Work and Community DevelopmentCollege of Social Work and Community Development

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMANUNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES, DILIMAN

GENDER AND SOLID WASTE GENDER AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN VIET NAMMANAGEMENT IN VIET NAM

Presented by:Presented by:LuuLuu DucDuc CuongCuong

Centre for Centre for ReseachReseach and Planning on Urban and Rural Environmentand Planning on Urban and Rural EnvironmentViet Nam National Institute for Urban and Rural PlanningViet Nam National Institute for Urban and Rural Planning

QuezonQuezon City, the PhilippinesCity, the Philippines2828--30 March 200530 March 2005

OVERVIEW OF GENDER AND OVERVIEW OF GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT IN VIET NAMDEVELOPMENT IN VIET NAM

There have been many female heroes in the history of Viet There have been many female heroes in the history of Viet Nam. The earliest female hero recorded was in the year 43 A.D.Nam. The earliest female hero recorded was in the year 43 A.D.

1,000 years of Chinese Colonization significantly influenced th1,000 years of Chinese Colonization significantly influenced the e cultural and social development of Viet Nam: Confucianism cultural and social development of Viet Nam: Confucianism became the formal thinking mainstream of the feudal system, became the formal thinking mainstream of the feudal system, which was characterized by which was characterized by ““respect men and despise womenrespect men and despise women””and by three subjections of a woman and by three subjections of a woman ““daughter to her father, wife daughter to her father, wife to her husband, widow to her sonto her husband, widow to her son””

Until the XV century, for the first time in history, the right oUntil the XV century, for the first time in history, the right of f women was given in the Law of the State, which promulgated that women was given in the Law of the State, which promulgated that women have the equality with men in inheriting properties, can women have the equality with men in inheriting properties, can claim for divorce, and are protected from violence. claim for divorce, and are protected from violence.

Early XX century, during French Colonization, most women had Early XX century, during French Colonization, most women had to work very hard, lived in poor conditions, and were illiterateto work very hard, lived in poor conditions, and were illiterate



OVERVIEW OF GENDER AND OVERVIEW OF GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT IN VIET NAM DEVELOPMENT IN VIET NAM (continued)(continued)

In 1930, the Viet Nam WomenIn 1930, the Viet Nam Women’’s Union (WU) was founded, which s Union (WU) was founded, which currently has 11 million members and 12,000 branches.currently has 11 million members and 12,000 branches.

After independence, in 1946, the fist Constitution of Viet Nam After independence, in 1946, the fist Constitution of Viet Nam was promulgated explicitly determining the equality of women witwas promulgated explicitly determining the equality of women with h men in all areas.men in all areas.

Subsequent (amended) constitutions in 1959, 1980, and 1992 Subsequent (amended) constitutions in 1959, 1980, and 1992 provided more details on the right and the role of women in the provided more details on the right and the role of women in the modern society emphasizing that achieving gender equality is onemodern society emphasizing that achieving gender equality is oneof the main tasks of the country.of the main tasks of the country.

In 1981, In 1981, the National Committee for the Decade of Vietnamese the National Committee for the Decade of Vietnamese WomenWomen was founded and chaired by the Chairwoman of WMwas founded and chaired by the Chairwoman of WM

In 1993, the In 1993, the National Committee for the Progress of Vietnamese National Committee for the Progress of Vietnamese WomenWomen was founded and chaired by the Chairwoman of WM.was founded and chaired by the Chairwoman of WM.

In 1997, In 1997, the National Act Plan for the Progress of Vietnamese the National Act Plan for the Progress of Vietnamese WomenWomen was approved by the Governmentwas approved by the Government

In 2002, In 2002, the National Strategy for the Progress of Vietnamese the National Strategy for the Progress of Vietnamese Women up to 2010Women up to 2010 was approved by the Governmentwas approved by the Government

QUICK FACTS ABOUT WOMAN QUICK FACTS ABOUT WOMAN PARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMYPARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMY

52.552.5International OrganizationsInternational Organizations55.255.2FinanceFinance58.958.9Trading Trading SevicesSevices59.259.2Public HealthPublic Health6565AgricultureAgriculture--ForestryForestry--AquacultureAquaculture

70.170.1EducationEducation

Percentage of Female Labor Percentage of Female Labor (%)(%)

SectorSector

50.8% of population is female50.6% of labor force is female

Woman Participation in Some Sectors

Source: Ngo Thi Tam, 2004




(continued)(continued)

19.419.4ScienceScience--TechnologyTechnology--EnvironmentEnvironment00Defense and SecurityDefense and Security

12.512.5Economic and BudgetEconomic and Budget

17.617.6Foreign AffairForeign Affair11.811.8Legal IssuesLegal Issues40.140.1Social IssuesSocial Issues43.643.6Ethnic GroupsEthnic Groups40.140.1Culture and EducationCulture and Education

Percentage of Female Percentage of Female Delegate (%)Delegate (%)

CommitteeCommittee

Woman Participation in the National Assembly’s Committees

Source: National Committee for the Progress of Women, 2002


(continued)(continued)

Woman Participation in the People’s Council at Different Levels

Source: Ministry of the Interior, 2002

16.6116.6114.3914.39CommuneCommune

20.9920.9918.0918.09DistrictDistrict

21.0521.0520.420.4ProvinceProvince

19991999--20042004(%)(%)

19941994--19991999(%)(%)

TermTermLevelLevel



GENDER AND SWM IN VIET NAMGENDER AND SWM IN VIET NAM

Issues and ConcernsIssues and Concerns

Total amount of SW generated in Viet Nam: 49,134 tons/day, of whTotal amount of SW generated in Viet Nam: 49,134 tons/day, of which:ich:-- Industrial waste: 26,877 tons/dayIndustrial waste: 26,877 tons/day-- Residential waste: 21,828 tons/dayResidential waste: 21,828 tons/day-- Hospital waste: 429 tons/dayHospital waste: 429 tons/day

Urban Environmental Services Company (URENCO) is the Urban Environmental Services Company (URENCO) is the organization responsible for waste collection and treatment at torganization responsible for waste collection and treatment at the he municipalities. municipalities. URENCOsURENCOs have 60have 60--80% female labor.80% female labor.

Women are involved in most wasteWomen are involved in most waste--generated activities (e.g., generated activities (e.g., manufacturing, trading, office work, housework).manufacturing, trading, office work, housework).

The percentage of female labor in the informal sector is very hThe percentage of female labor in the informal sector is very highighWomen participate in many social activities relating to environWomen participate in many social activities relating to environmental mental

protection such as protection such as ““greengreen--cleanclean--nicenice”” movement, which has been movement, which has been initiated at the commune level and whose main idea has been invoinitiated at the commune level and whose main idea has been involving lving women to the 3women to the 3--R principle: reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.R principle: reduce, reuse, and recycle waste.

Issues and Concerns (continued)Issues and Concerns (continued)

oo Many industries generating a large amount of hazardous Many industries generating a large amount of hazardous industrial waste have a high rate of industrial waste have a high rate of femalfemal labor:labor:

-- Textile industry: 70%Textile industry: 70%-- Pharmaceutical industry: 60%Pharmaceutical industry: 60%-- Chemical industry: 50%Chemical industry: 50%-- Electronic industry: 75%Electronic industry: 75%

oo Most women working for these hazardous industries have Most women working for these hazardous industries have limited education and therefore they have low position working limited education and therefore they have low position working with simple, basic skill. This increases the risk of direct with simple, basic skill. This increases the risk of direct exposure to the hazardous waste.exposure to the hazardous waste.

oo As consequences, women working for the industries have all As consequences, women working for the industries have all kinds of diseases, including respiratory, skin, occupational deakinds of diseases, including respiratory, skin, occupational deaf, f, and especially woman diseases. and especially woman diseases.

oo 100% women in Viet Nam do housework and therefore they 100% women in Viet Nam do housework and therefore they involve in household waste treatment at a certain extent, involve in household waste treatment at a certain extent, including including collection,collection, source separation, reuse, and recycling.source separation, reuse, and recycling.




oo 70% of labor force in hospitals is female. This poses a high ris70% of labor force in hospitals is female. This poses a high risk k of hazardous hospital waste to the women working in this area of hazardous hospital waste to the women working in this area and to the community if they do not know proper methods of and to the community if they do not know proper methods of hospital waste treatment.hospital waste treatment.

oo Women are responsible for most agricultural work in rural areas.Women are responsible for most agricultural work in rural areas.Since they have limited access to information sources, many of Since they have limited access to information sources, many of them are not aware of the risk of hazardous chemicals them are not aware of the risk of hazardous chemicals remaining in pesticide packaging.remaining in pesticide packaging.

oo Women have the primary responsibility for waste management, Women have the primary responsibility for waste management, not only at the household level, but also at the community levelnot only at the household level, but also at the community level. . Although low paid, they secure Although low paid, they secure prefessionsprefessions of street sweeping of street sweeping and waste collection by handcarts.and waste collection by handcarts.

oo The presence of women in the informal recycling sector in The presence of women in the informal recycling sector in Vietnam is the regionVietnam is the region’’s highest (66% compared to 38% in s highest (66% compared to 38% in Phnom Penh, 52% in Bangkok, 46% in Phnom Penh, 52% in Bangkok, 46% in WuhanWuhan, 50% in , 50% in Bangalore, etc.)Bangalore, etc.)


oo Men dominate higher paying professions not only in the informal Men dominate higher paying professions not only in the informal sector such as dealers but also in the formal sector such as sector such as dealers but also in the formal sector such as truck drivers and managers although in many cases women truck drivers and managers although in many cases women prove to be more careful and more reliable workers.prove to be more careful and more reliable workers.

oo Men earn more as waste pickers at dumps because they are Men earn more as waste pickers at dumps because they are more more likekylikeky to work at night, when most of the waste arrives and to work at night, when most of the waste arrives and most women stay at home to take care of their children and/or most women stay at home to take care of their children and/or their husband!!.their husband!!.

oo The majority of waste pickers at dumps is women and children. The majority of waste pickers at dumps is women and children. One of the reasons is the One of the reasons is the ““feminization of povertyfeminization of poverty””

oo ““Gender rightsGender rights”” only allow women to approach less valuable only allow women to approach less valuable recyclable materials at less convenient places.recyclable materials at less convenient places.

oo Women are respected with cleaning works at public places but Women are respected with cleaning works at public places but at the same time they are despised because of those works.at the same time they are despised because of those works.



THANK YOU!THANK YOU!