Dong Nai Women's Association: 100th anniversary of International Women's Day – March 8 and 1970th anniversary of the Trung Sisters’ Uprising

Meeting

    The meeting was attended by Ms. Nguyen Viet Hong from the central government – Head of the Commission for Southern Women; Dong Nai leadership: Mr. Le Hong Phuong – Standing Deputy Secretary of Dong Nai Party Committee, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien – Chairwoman of Dong Nai Fatherland Front Committee; Ms. Bui Ngoc Thanh – Head of Dong Nai Party Committee’s Commission for People Mobilization Work, Mr. Tran Van Vinh – Vice chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee; the Association’s former members and 135 exemplary units and individuals.

    Delegates reminisced about traditions and history of the International Women's Day and the Trung Sisters’ Uprising. In late 19th century, 100 years ago, capitalism grew strongly in the U.S. Women and child workers were driven into factories but they were underpaid. Being indignant at the way they were treated, American women workers rose to struggle for increased pay and reduced work hours. The movement quickly spread worldwide. In 1910, the Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen (Denmark), decided to establish March 8 as International Women's Day. March 8 is a day for global women workers to show solidarity and struggle with the aim of maintaining national independence, democracy, peace and social progress and of protecting the rights of mothers and children. In Vietnam, March 8 is also a day to celebrate the anniversary of the Trung Sisters’ Uprising – the first two national heroines to resist foreign aggression and to protect the country. Though the country’s independence was not preserved for long, the Trung Sisters’ victory has become an immortal epic, embodying both a struggle for independence and national spirit. The Trung Sisters’ Uprising proves women’s great power in national construction and defense of Vietnam.

Standing Deputy Secretary of Dong Nai Party Committee – Le Hong Phuong is delivering a speech at the meeting

    In the past five years, women’s talents and intelligence in all aspects have been developed and the patriotic emulation movement among all classes of Dong Nai women has grown constantly and achieved results as well. Locally, movements like "Women learn actively, work creatively and build a happy family" have become exciting ones. These movements go together with the campaign “Study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s ethical example" and are aimed at performing the Association’s six major tasks. Also, movements such as "Women are good at both office work and housework", "An excellent class cadre" and so on have contributed to improving the quality and efficiency of work of female workers, civil servants, employees and those who serve in people’s armed forces. All levels of the Association have combined emulation activities with others: hunger elimination and poverty reduction, helping each other improve the standard of living and social welfare policies, preventing social evils and building a cultural lifestyle and gratitude activities ...

Delegates in the meeting

    That development and progress of the women’s movement through the implementation of the Association’s main programs and of other emulation movements launched by the Party, government and unions has created a revolutionary movement among officers, members and all classes of women. Accordingly, more and more exemplary talents have made a lot of outstanding contributions to all aspects of social life; many collectives and individuals have been voted in as emulation fighters and won many noble titles; the role and position of women towards training, learning, working, creation, building a happy family and promoting economic growth in this era have been asserted.

Ms. Le Thi Huong – Vice chairwoman of Dong Nai Women's Association is reminiscing about traditions of  International Women's Day and the 1970th anniversary of the Trung Sisters’ Uprising

    Addressing the meeting, Standing Deputy Secretary of Dong Nai Party Committee – Le Hong Phuong commended Dong Nai Women’s Movement for its five-year achievements. Phuong said that for the stability of women’s movement, all levels of the Association are required to update their operational contents and methods, direct grassroots-based operations at remote and poor hinterlands and avoid showing off and chasing after achievements; extend and diversify types of activities, associate the Association’s   development with looking after and protecting its members’ rights and legitimate interests; organize a variety of fascinating emulation movements in both form and content; timely grasp and reflect the aspirations of all classes of women, take better care of the lives of women workers working in industrial parks; strengthen women’s on-the-job training, ability and professional skills, help women through difficulties to rise up, to improve their education, managerial skills and career skills and to have a good health and a healthy lifestyle; sweep away the old ideas – “Men are superior to women”.

Mr. Le Hong Phuong gives awards to exemplary individuals and collectives

    At the meeting, 135 exemplary units, individuals and women were commended by Dong Nai Women's Association.

Reported by Le Nguyen, Translated by Duy Minh