English - CEDAW Southeast Asia

IV. INITIAL FACTS ON CEDAW AND VIET NAM
Viet Nam ratified CEDAW in 17 February 1982. CEDAW’s entry into force in relation to Viet
Nam is 19 March 1982. By ratifying, Viet Nam became a State Party to CEDAW. As a result,
it is legally bound to observe CEDAW. Ratification shows that Viet Nam recognizes that
inequality against women exists and that there is a need for State action to eliminate discrimination.
Viet Nam has already submitted six State Party reports and it has engaged in a constructive
dialogue with the CEDAW Committee three times on 13 March 1986, 1 July 2001 and
17 January 2007. Corresponding Concluding Comments have been issued by the CEDAW
Committee pointing out positive aspects of implementation, areas of concern, and recommendations
in relation to the Vietnamese context.
Viet Nam’s latest State Party report, the Combined Fifth and Sixth Periodic Report of States
Parties: Viet Nam. Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under Article 18 of
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
CEDAW/C/VNM/5-6. June 22, 2005 (Combined Fifth and Sixth Periodic Report), was submitted
in 2005. In 17 January 2007, Viet Nam was invited to a constructive dialogue with
the CEDAW Committee at its 37th CEDAW session for the consideration of the Combined
Fifth and Sixth Periodic Report. Vietnamese NGOs also submitted NGO reports to provide
the CEDAW Committee with an alternative source of information on the status of CEDAW
implementation. 130 On 2 February 2007, the CEDAW Committee issued Concluding
Comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Viet
Nam. Jan. 17, 2007. CEDAW/C/VNM/CO/6 (Concluding Comments on Viet Nam 2007). It
requested Viet Nam to respond to the concerns expressed in them and it invited Viet Nam
to submit its Combined Seventh and Eight Periodic Report in March 2011. 131
57
130
See Report of Non-Governmental Organizations regarding Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in Viet Nam, Ha Noi, 2006 (Viet Nam NGO Report)
131
Concluding Comments on Viet Nam 2007
A Gendered and Rights-Based Review of Vietnamese Legal Documents through the Lens of CEDAW