Many are saying that Vietnam should have policies to offer incentives for families with all girls to help decrease the country’s gender imbalance.
Vietnam’s gender imbalance has become a problem in recent years and is getting worse
Dr. Duong Quoc Trong, former Head of the General Director of the Population and Family Planning, made the point at a conference in Hanoi on October 2-3. He said that Vietnam’s gender imbalance has become a problem in recent years and is getting worse. The gender ratio at birth was estimated at 106.2 boys per 100 girls in 2000 and 113.8 boys to every 100 girls in 2013. In Hung Yen Province, the ratio is 140.7 boys to every 100 girls.
He added that this is a thorny issue, as more than 4 million Vietnamese men will unable to find a Vietnamese wife in the next 15 to 20 years.
The gender imbalance is mainly attributed to the fact that couple now have access to modern medical equipment which helps to select gender, mixed with the traditional Vietnamese preference for boys.
According to Dr. Trong, it is essential to create programmes that raise awareness about the gender balance.
He noted, however, that it has taken 50 years to raise awareness about the importance of having only two children. Trong emphasised that one important measure is drafting policy that gives incentives to families with all daughters.
The General Department of Population and Family Planning will propose some such policies, government support for parents who have girls when they get old and priority for girls applying to university.
Some experts also suggested that more strict restrictions on gender selection be imposed, but such policies have not yet been implemented due to the limited budget.
The General Department of Population and Family Planning has set up a hotline, 1900 545586, in 13 cities and provinces to give advice to people on issues related to family planning, gender and reproduction.
Đăng ký: VietNam News