The essay writing contest called ‘Prolonging the story of Nora’ was initiated to encourage Vietnamese youth to engage in gender equality, with Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House” as the starting point for ideas and discussions. Nora is the main character in this play, and her fate has inspired thoughts on gender equality issues for generations.
“The suggestions in the essays show that Vietnamese youth are creative and forward thinking. Young people are key to change, and therefore this project has been truly inspiring”, Ms Zenia Chrysostomidis, Second Secretary at the Norwegian Embassy, said. “Through the series of Nora’s Sisters Seminars and this project, which prolongs Nora’s story in Vietnam, art is used as a basis for knowledge, discussion and inspiration about an important topic in our society: how to ensure equal rights for all” she continued.
Ms Chrysostomidis spoke at the workshop where the research results of the project were presented, and she expressed gratitude to all the contributors to the project, which include VTV6, the Centre for Community Empowerment (CECEM) and the Gender Equality Department in the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). Most of all she thanked the participants who have shared their thoughts and ideas on gender equality in Vietnam, and said that many of the suggestions in the essays were interesting.
She particularly liked that young people put emphasis on active participation also from men when it comes to engaging in gender equality, and noted the call for using social media in order to raise awareness. Ms. Chrysostomidis emphasized here that freedom of expression, also on the internet, was of utmost importance in order to allow a plurality of voices to raise their concerns on a multitude of subjects.
Gender equality is a high priority for Norway, and Norway will continue to be a partner for Vietnam in their efforts of putting gender equality on the agenda.