English - CEDAW Southeast Asia

VI. CONCLUSION
As gender is a cross-cutting issue relevant in all sectors and arenas, legal reform to
incorporate gender equality is a challenging process. This legal review seeks to contribute to
this process as one of its building blocks. It is hoped that the recommendations in the review
will assist not only in the immediate reform of legal documents, but also in the continuous
process of analysing, monitoring, evaluating, revising, supplementing and drafting of legal
documents to ensure their compliance with international standards on gender equality.
It is obvious that, to achieve gender equality or to progress towards it, comprehensive
measures must be in place. This has always been emphasized, especially by the CEDAW
Committee in its instruments. Review and reform of laws and legal documents is simply one
of the numerous measures and obligations that need to be undertaken to achieve equality and
eliminate discrimination. Legal reform by itself will not be effective if it is not complemented
and supplemented by other measures, including education and awareness-raising, economic
interventions, psychological and medical assistance, and psycho-social services. Many forms
of measures must be in place, and they must complement and supplement each other to
comply with the obligation under CEDAW to respect, protect, promote and fulfil equal rights.
Lastly, it is critical to bear in mind that, to carry out the recommendations, the
commitment of the political leadership and the participation of an informed, diverse and
gender-sensitive constituency are necessary. These are needed for legal reform to become
real and sustainable. The effective participation of women, as a crucial part of this
constituency, must be recognized at all times. Continuous and unwavering will and support
from the State and the people is necessary to be able to consistently progress towards the
goal of gender equality.
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A Gendered and Rights-Based Review of Vietnamese Legal Documents through the Lens of CEDAW