The Communist Party of Vietnam led the building of the organizational system and activities of the Vietnam Women's Union from 1976 to 1986

We had to wage a war to defend our country for nearly three years; old wounds had not yet healed when new destruction was added; major natural disasters occurred one after another; the enemy constantly sabotaged us in many ways.

On the other hand, the difficulties are also due to shortcomings and mistakes of our Party and State agencies from the central to the grassroots level in terms of economic and social leadership and management. In certain aspects, shortcomings and mistakes in leadership and management are the main causes of or aggravating the economic and social difficulties in recent years.

Regarding ideology, culture is still neglected; the education of party members and the masses about the struggle between the two paths has not received enough attention. In the fight against psychological warfare, reactionary ideology, and decadent culture, ideological and cultural work lacks sharpness and combativeness.

Socialist legality is slow to be strengthened; laws and discipline are lax. The fight against illegal acts and social evils lacks determination and thoroughness.

Party building work has been sluggish for a long time, not keeping up with and not closely following new tasks, especially those related to economic reform and development. In particular, personnel work is very slow and conservative in all stages of training, arrangement, use and treatment.

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Those are very serious mistakes.

2.1.1.2. International situation

In the 1970s, especially after the defeat of the US imperialists in Vietnam, the world revolution entered a new period of development. Three revolutionary streams: the socialist revolutionary stream with the Soviet Union as the pillar, the national liberation revolutionary stream and the world peace movement stream of the era grew tremendously, forming an extremely great combined strength, achieving brilliant victories in the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and socialism.

In recent times, imperialism has suffered successive defeats; the capitalist world has fallen into an unprecedentedly severe general crisis. Many factors that once brought about the strong development of the capitalist world's productive forces until the early 1970s have gradually lost their effectiveness. Along with the economic and social deadlock, there has been the collapse of populist doctrines and rhetoric that beautifies capitalist society. In the general weakening of imperialism, the ringleader, the United States, has suffered the greatest defeat, the deepest crisis, and has been outcompeted and encroached upon by other capitalist powers. The economic crisis, energy and raw material crises in the world have further increased the contradictions between the empires.

However, our socialist revolutionary cause is taking place in an international context with many complex changes. The aggressive forces of imperialism, headed by the US imperialists... are colluding with each other, gathering forces to counterattack the world revolutionary movement, mainly against the Soviet Union and the socialist community. In Southeast Asia, the reactionaries and imperialist forces are aiming their spearheads against Vietnam and the two countries of Laos and Cambodia.

Currently, the domestic reactionaries, aided and abetted by the US, are waging a destructive war against Vietnam on the military, political, economic, and cultural fronts with various forces and very insidious tricks... Through psychological warfare and espionage, they are trying to sabotage us politically, ideologically, and organizationally, plotting to divide the ethnic groups, divide the people from the Party, secretly kindling reactionary forces, and organizing opposition activities with the aim of causing riots and overthrowing. They sabotage the economy, sabotage production, collude with the imperialists to implement the embargo policy, and at the same time spread the poison of reactionary and depraved culture. They seek every way to tarnish Vietnam's image in order to isolate our country in the international arena...

The Chinese reactionary authorities commanded Pol Pot's henchmen to massacre the Cambodian people, expand the war of aggression on our southwestern border, and simultaneously attack the entire northern border of our country.

Our Party affirms: "Thus, our country is in a situation of both peace and having to confront a multi-faceted destructive war... at the same time, we must be ready to deal with the situation where the enemy may wage a large-scale war of aggression . "

In 1982, in the light of the Party's general and economic guidelines, the Party and the State issued a number of economic management policies and organizational reforms to stabilize and develop the economy and society. The Party Congress and the 5th National Women's Congress were extensive political activities, great festivals for the masses, and a strong source of encouragement for women. Women looked forward to the congress with all their faith and through all practical actions, achieved many outstanding achievements.

However, besides the new changes and progress, the economic and social situation is facing great difficulties and posing many urgent issues that need to be resolved for women across the country. The 5th Party Congress pointed out that the shortcomings of the women's movement stem from the economic and social situation of our country, from shortcomings in the leadership and management of the economy and society of the Party and State.

Based on the assessment of the advantages and difficulties pointed out by the 5th Party Congress, the 5th Congress, the Vietnam Women's Union made assessments of the advantages and difficulties in the organization and operation of the Union:

* Favorable:

The Party pays great attention to the development of the Vietnam Women's Union, has raised high the banner of national independence and socialism and constantly cared for the cause of women's liberation.

The victory of the women's movement and the cause of women's liberation is closely linked to the building and strengthening of women's organizations under the leadership of the Party.

After the Women's Union for the Liberation of South Vietnam successfully completed its historical mission during the period of fighting against the US to save the country, the women's conference of the two regions in June 1976 decided to unify the organization and direct

leading the women's movement nationwide. Since then, the Vietnam Women's Union has been the unified organization of Vietnamese women. The Union has a system from the Central to the grassroots level, including more than 9 million women of all classes, ages, ethnicities and religions. Together with other mass organizations, the Union has gathered, educated and mobilized women into an active political force to implement the Party and State's guidelines and policies. Responding to the movement " New women building and defending the Fatherland " launched by the Union, women across the country have promoted emulation and achieved many outstanding achievements in all aspects.

After the reunification of the country, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam promptly promulgated a new Constitution, affirming the equality of men and women in all aspects, more fully regulating the rights of women and children and determining the legal status of the Vietnam Women's Union. The above provisions are an important legal basis for continuing to step by step move forward to more fully implement the equality of men and women. The promulgation by our State of the "Ordinance on the Protection, Care and Education of Children" and the ratification of the "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women" adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, demonstrate the correct viewpoint and concern of our State for women and children.

Along with the promulgation of laws, our State has tried to gradually create conditions for women to strive for equality in life. The role of women is increasingly enhanced in all aspects of labor production and social activities (as presented in the above sections), which is a basic condition and at the same time the most obvious achievement of the cause of women's liberation and gender equality.

From the broad movement of women in all aspects of activities, with the attention and training of all levels and sectors, the number of female cadres participating in management and leadership has grown increasingly large. Overcoming many difficulties in family, children, and narrow-minded prejudices left by the old society, many women have studied and strived to fulfill their assigned duties and tasks. Many

She has combined professional work well with taking care of women's issues in the industry and unit, and is trusted by the masses.

Besides the political cadres who have been involved in the women's movement for decades, there are also scientific and technical cadres, women participating in government leadership, economic management... That is the beautiful image of the solidarity of women from all walks of life nationwide acting in unison in the Vietnam Women's Union.

Vietnamese women are worthy of the slogan “Heroic, indomitable, loyal, and courageous”. For the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, for socialism, for the cause of women’s liberation, over the years, under the leadership of the Party, Vietnamese women of all classes have made glorious contributions to the great victory of the cause of national liberation and the cause of building socialism and defending the Fatherland, bringing the cause of women’s liberation forward to achieve great results. Material production is the basis that determines the existence and development of human society; in which women play an extremely important role. Along with economic tasks, women have promoted a great role in cultural and social activities, areas that are especially suitable for their abilities. In addition to the important role of women in production, women also have an indispensable sacred role, which is the role of shouldering family work. Role in social work: At the Conference of the Central Executive Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union (expanded session), the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong said: "The history of our nation from ancient times with the shining example of Ba Trung and Ba Trieu, through the stages, has always shone the image of Vietnamese women, producers, soldiers, wives and mothers, so brave and gentle, so altruistic and hard-working".

The maturity of female cadres marks an important step forward in realizing gender equality, building and promoting the collective mastery of socialism of the working people of our country.

Through practical activities, the Association's bases in many places have been consolidated, becoming a support for the Party committee and the government in all matters. Cadre training has been expanded, meeting part of the needs of the increasingly developing movement.

The Association's cadres have matured, including nearly 5,000 full-time women at all levels of the Association, and hundreds of thousands of female cadres of the Trade Union, female cadres in various sectors and at the grassroots level. Despite many difficulties in their family life, the majority of the Association's cadres (including female cadres) remain loyal to the Party's revolutionary cause and are enthusiastic about the cause of women's liberation. The women uphold the spirit of overcoming difficulties and hardships, living a frugal and simple life, and rushing everywhere to carry out their duties. Many women in the mountainous areas climb passes and wade through streams to reach villages and hamlets to bring the Party's and the Association's policies to the masses. Many women bravely stay in war zones or travel day and night to consolidate bases in vulnerable areas. The cadres at the grassroots level, both working in production and taking care of their families, still devotedly participate in the Association's work, making great sacrifices and contributions. Many women have participated in the revolution all their lives. Although they have retired, they continue to contribute their revolutionary enthusiasm and experience to the activities of the Association. Thousands of units and levels of the Association with many outstanding achievements have been awarded Flags and Certificates of Merit by the Central Association. Over 6,000 Association officials have been awarded the Medal "For the cause of women's liberation".

In the challenging revolutionary transition of recent years, in the face of complicated developments in the domestic and international situation, the majority of women have shown themselves to be steadfast, loyal to the ideals of independence, freedom and socialism, persistently enduring all hardships, striving to overcome all difficulties to complete their tasks. On irrigation construction sites or on the front lines, in bombs and bullets as well as during storms and floods, women of all classes, ethnicities, religions, ages and regions have stood shoulder to shoulder, relied on each other to create strength to overcome all difficulties and challenges.

The comprehensive and effective assistance of the women and people of the Soviet Union, the fighting solidarity between the women and people of the three Indochinese countries, the strong support of the women and people of the fraternal socialist countries, and progressive women and people all over the world have given our people and women enthusiastic support and very valuable aid.

* Hard

- Women's working and living conditions are still difficult. Women's labor has not been well utilized. Many policies have not been fully implemented. Many policies are no longer suitable and are slow to be revised and supplemented. The living and working conditions of women in arduous, toxic occupations and in remote areas have not received due attention. Collective welfare facilities are still lacking and in many places are of poor quality. Service and distribution work is not good, affecting rest and study time. Housework is still very difficult. The health of women and children in many places has declined.

- The role of collective mastery and the implementation of gender equality both in the family and in society still have limitations. Feudal and bourgeois ideology hinders the implementation of laws, policies and regimes of the State towards women, especially in the issue of female labor, female cadres, and marriage and family issues. The position of female cadres in the management and leadership apparatus is not commensurate with the role of women in production labor and social activities. Although the number of female cadres has increased, the proportion of female cadres in state power agencies and in many sectors has decreased, due to the lack of planning and specific policies. There are still many violations of collective mastery, unfair treatment of women, and even acts of mistreatment and bullying of women that have not been severely punished.

The above difficulties, combined with the slow overcoming of negative social phenomena, have caused women to worry, affecting their enthusiasm for work and work. On the other hand, women themselves also have weaknesses and shortcomings that need to be overcome. That is: women in our country have long lived in a small-scale production society, heavily burdened with feudal colonial remnants. In the initial stages of reforming and building socialism, the mechanism for implementing collective mastery is not clear, socialist legislation is not strict, in some aspects, the socialist battlefield is still invaded by capitalist and non-socialist factors. Meanwhile, our educational work on the transitional stage does not have appropriate content, does not clarify the requirements, content and difficult and complicated nature of the initial stages of the transitional period in our country. On the other hand, the cultural and professional level of women is not clear.

Women's awareness is still low. The dissemination of laws and policies has not received due attention. All of these social existences have caused many women to have doubts in their awareness and belief, not clearly distinguishing between labor and exploitation, socialism and capitalism, not properly understanding the rights and obligations of citizens, not fully seeing the role and position of women in the new society. A number of women have not fully demonstrated their awareness of being the masters of the country, have not respected labor discipline and fulfilled their civic duties. A few women, for their own benefit, have violated the collective and state interests, done illegal things, harmed the country, harmed the people, and unintentionally harmed the long-term future of their children and grandchildren.

Also due to limited education, in life, many women have not been able to build happy, progressive families that are suitable for the new society. Many women have not freed themselves from the outdated concepts and customs of the feudal marriage and family system, or have followed a bourgeois lifestyle, themselves violating the marriage and family law, causing unnecessary suffering to others and themselves. Many women lack common scientific knowledge, have not proactively practiced family planning, and do not pay attention to and know how to raise children. Many women are influenced by old customs and practices, competing, organizing weddings, funerals, death anniversaries, and Tet in a costly and wasteful manner. Women are also the main victims of superstitious evils that are on the rise in some places.

Due to the above shortcomings, women also contribute to negative phenomena in society, and at the same time make their already difficult lives even more difficult.

The existing problems of the women's movement originate from the socio-economic situation of our country and from shortcomings in leadership and economic and social management, which the Party's reports at the recent 5th Congress have deeply analyzed and proposed policies and measures to overcome.

In general, the responsibility of the Association is not to promptly change the content and methods of operation to promote the role and function of mass organizations in the new period, as stated in the resolution of the 4th Party Congress.

The Communist Party of Vietnam led the building of the organizational system and activities of the Vietnam Women's Union from 1976 to 1986 - 8

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