VietNamNet Bridge – Would-be female candidates for the upcoming National Assembly and People's Council elections gathered in Ha Noi yesterday, April 18, to learn the necessary skills.


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HTML clipboard Actress Hong Anh is among several women who have been nominated for the upcoming National Assembly elections. Female candidates will be trained on how to canvass voters under a new Government initiative. (Photo: VNS)
The two-day conference is part of activities to lift the rate of female representatives in both bodies to more than 30 per cent.


The women are learning how to build their images, make and present action plans through the media and in front of voters as well as the skills needed to meet and canvass voters.


Vice chairman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Luong Phan Cu said the media played an important role in introducing candidates to voters by rapidly conveying their plans, messages and images.

"Candidates should develop skills at reading and writing – and especially at speaking," he said.


"To make their speech more persuasive, candidates should carefully study political attitudes and the intellectual level of voters as well as the socio-economic development and traditions where voters lived," Cu added.


Vice chairwoman of the NA Council for Ethnic Group, Bui Thi Binh said creating an action plan was the most effective tool for canvassing voters directly.


A good action plan helped show candidates' respect for voters and their determination to accomplish tasks.


"An action plan should focus on a candidate's biography, their responsibilities as a NA deputy and their desire to get the backing of voters," Binh said.


Vice chairman of the National Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Van Pha said there were few female candidates as most agencies and organisations introduced males – and women remained hesitant.


"Female candidates also face male chauvinism, low intellectual levels by some voters and the lack of information for those living in remote and mountainous areas," he added.


"More information dissemination and campaigns are needed to give women better chances," he said.


Truong Thi Mai, a member of the Party Central Committee and Chairwoman of the NA Social Affairs Committee, said the increasing presence of female NA deputies would help create better balanced policies.

"Ensuring a reasonable rate of female NA deputies and People's Council members is in line with the national target on gender equality," Mai said.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News