Vietnam will have a 'surplus' of 1.5 million men by 2034, Hai Duong has a high gender imbalance

Vietnam will have a surplus of 1.5 million men by 2034 and 2.5 million men by 2059 if the gender imbalance at birth remains as high as it is now.

This information was given at a training course on how to communicate about gender-biased sex selection organized by the Department of Population (Ministry of Health) and the United Nations Population Fund in Vietnam (UNFPA) on November 28 and 29 in Hai Phong.

Accordingly, gender-based violence based on fetal sex selection is becoming a serious problem in Vietnam, causing many social and economic consequences. The phenomenon of gender imbalance at birth began to appear in 2006 with the sex ratio at birth reaching 109.8 boys/100 girls and continuously increasing.

To date, this ratio remains above 112, higher than the natural biological level (103-106 boys/100 girls). In particular, in the Red River Delta provinces such as Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, this number is up to 120 boys/100 girls.

According to Ms. Hoang Thi Thom, Deputy Director of the Department of Population (Ministry of Health), this situation deeply reflects the long-standing gender prejudice in society. The culture of "male superiority over female", along with the notion that men are the ones to continue the family line, has created great pressure on families.

In addition, the social security system is not yet strong enough, especially in rural areas, causing many elderly people to expect sons to ensure financial security and future care. These factors, combined with the development of medical technology, have led to the abuse of fetal sex screening techniques.

“There needs to be a coordinated effort between policy, communication and the community to change cultural norms and support women’s empowerment. Only when individuals and communities are aware of the equal value of girls and boys can the problem of gender imbalance at birth be controlled,” emphasized Deputy Director of the Department of Population Hoang Thi Thom.

Gender and Human Rights Expert of the United Nations Population Fund in Vietnam (UNFPA) Ha Thi Quynh Anh said that in the social context of some countries, the preference for sons is very strong, which causes parents to seek to intervene in the gender of their children in an effort to have at least one son.

Gender-biased sex selection limits the number of girls born into a family, allowing parents to have one or more sons without exceeding the number of children allowed. Sex selection can be done before or after birth, leading to imbalances.

Gender imbalance at birth not only affects individuals and families, but also has profound consequences for society. If this situation continues, the "surplus of men and lack of women" will increase marital pressure, trafficking in women, prostitution and sexual violence. At the same time, it undermines the role and position of women in society, pushing them into a more vulnerable position.

More worryingly, the issue of gender imbalance at birth also changes the demographic structure, creating great challenges in ensuring the workforce, developing the social security system and health care.

To address the imbalance in the sex ratio at birth, Vietnam has strengthened the completion and implementation of legal policies related to gender equality, which are specified in the Law on Gender Equality issued by the National Assembly; the 2003 Population Ordinance of the National Assembly Standing Committee; Decree No. 104/2003/ND-CP of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of the Population Ordinance; Decree No. 114/2006/ND-CP of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations related to population and children; the Population Strategy through the stages and the National Strategy on Gender Equality both strictly prohibit acts of sex selection at birth...

Dr. Mai Trung Son, Department of Population, recommends that Vietnam should focus on the following main groups of solutions: promoting communication to raise awareness, preventing the issue of fetal sex selection, promoting the value of girls and gender equality; implementing laws that strictly prohibit the use of technology in determining fetal sex and terminating pregnancies.

In addition, implementing socio-economic policies to improve gender equality, promulgating social security systems focusing on women and children.