Experts suggested integrating gender equality into the development andenforcement of the revised Law on State Budget at a forum held in Hanoion January 27.

They said the 2013 Constitution andthe 2006 Law on Gender Equality both stipulated bringinggender-responsive budgeting into the amended law.

Financial resources, from the State budget and otherwise, are essentialto promoting the equal rights of women and children, they added.

A clear gender budget with specific principles will help promotegender equality activities in Vietnam and ensure effectiveimplementation of the national strategy and programme on gender equity.

The National Assembly Committee for Financial andBudgetary Affairs is studying the application of successfulinternational practices in the realm, said deputy head Dinh Van Nha.

He described gender equality as the foundation to building budget estimates and defining spending demands on the field.

The draft Law on State Budget should be adjusted in the spirit of the2013 Constitution and supplemental contents which highlight thenecessity of human and financial resources to enact gender equalitymeasures.

Experts also recommended building amonitoring mechanism to ensure the State budget is managed in atransparent, public and equitable fashion.

Theysuggested increasing the involvement of residents at the local level inthe development, allocation and examination of the local budget whileraising gender equality awareness among officials.

The draft law should also be constructed and implemented on the basis ofhuman rights and commitments to promoting gender equality, as opposedto “priority” mechanisms, they commented.-VNA