Luong Thi Tho, Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Trung Thanh commune, Da Bac district, (standing) receives local residents, answers their queries and recommendations. 

According to statistics of the provincial Party Committee's Organisation Commission, the number of female officials under the management of the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board currently accounts for 18%, and 21% under the management of the district Party Committees’ Standing Boards. The number of women participating in the provincial Party Committee accounts for 17%, in the district Party Committees 18%, and at the grassroots level 20%. The percentage of female deputies to the provincial People's Council is 22%, and the district level 28%. The percentage of female leaders at the district People's Committees is 6.5%, and the commune level 8.3%. 

The provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board has led and directed Party committees, localities, agencies, and units to review and supplement the arrangement of leaders at all levels, with an aim to have 25% or more female officials. 

To achieve that goal, the province has directed agencies and units to focus on training and fostering personnel in general, and female officials. Attention has been paid to increasing the number of female Party members by Party committees at all levels. Female Party members in the entire Party organisation now accounts for 38.5% of the total. 

Bui Thi Thu Hang, deputy head of the provincial Party Committee's Organisation Commission, said that in addition to the results, the female personnel work in the province still faces some limitations and difficulties. The proportion of women holding key positions remains low; there remain some women living in rural and mountainous areas, and ethnic minorities who have many disadvantages due to limited access to and enjoyment of policies; and gender prejudice exists. 

Faced with that reality, the commission has proposed the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board lead and direct all-level Party committees and localities to pay more attention to the planning of female cadre resources; create all conditions for women to participate in leadership and management work to avoid a shortage in the number of female officials; and ensure their legitimate and legal rights and interests so that they can participate in political and social activities.