The Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) expresses its deep concern at the recent war and violence escalation in the Middle East, which heavily harm civilians in Lebanon and Palestine, especially women and children.

They are ethnic minority women, followers of religion, producers of traditional brocade, woven rattan and bamboo products and sedge mats, in 9 communes belong to Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Ninh Thuan, Lam Dong provinces.

From various sources of capital, Khanh Hoa provinces' women's unions at all levels have helped over 8,000 women to access to loans worth VND 39 billion.

The Embassy of Finland and the Women’s Union of Ha Giang province signed the project “Pilot model of caged “Chiem” fish raising, opening a new business model for poor women in the province.

Recently, Quan Hoa Women‘s Union in Thanh Hoa Province has organized a training class to teach and develop the traditional textile industry among local ethnic minority women.

In 2005 and the early months of 2006, Bac Ninh Women's Union at all levels combined with the Social Policy Bank to mobilize funds from other sources. This money funded 55,614 women members with more than VND 199 billion, in which, VND 112 billion is Social Policy Bank's fund equal to 56%. Districts with the largest funds are Que Vo (67,8 billion) and Yen Phong (34,6 billion).

On May 24th, 2006, Mme Ha Thi Khiet, member of the Central Party’s Committee, President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women, President of the Vietnam Women’s Union and Mr. Jesper Morch, United Nation’s coordinator in Vietnam hosted a reception welcoming Mr. Kofi Annan, United Nation’s General Secretary and his spouse at Melia hotel. Present at the reception were women leaders of several Ministries/sectors and United Nation’s representatives in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Women's Union (VWU) on June 19 presented an insignia for the advancement of Vietnamese women to the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam, Anna Lindstedt, in recognition of her active support for the Vietnamese women.

The 14th Congress of Women’s International Democratic Federation (WIDF) will be held in Venezuela in 2007 with the slogan “Women of the world - a vital force against neo-liberal globalization, imperialism, terrorism and wars for equality, economic and social justice, and peace”.

During UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annans official visit to Vietnam, his spouse Mrs. Nane Annan paid a visit to Branch 7 of VWU’s TYM credit fund in Me Linh district, Vinh Phuc province. She attended a meeting with women borrowers at Center 15, Branch 7 and visited 2 women borrowers at their residence.