Delegates at the conference to introduce the concert in Hanoi on November 17. Photo by the UNFPA.

According to the organisers, this is the first-ever symphony concert, which will feature promising and outstanding young female soloists to connect people, women and men, boys and girls from different socio-cultural backgrounds in different parts of Vietnam and in different parts of the world.

Gender equality in Vietnam has improved over the past decades, however, domestic violence and gender-biased sex selection as harmful practices for women and girls continue to remain in the country.

UNFPA-supported Data from the 2019 National Study shows that nearly 2 in 3 women (62.9 per cent) experienced one or more forms of physical, sexual, emotional, and economic violence and controlling behaviours by their husbands in their lifetime.

Speaking at a Tuesday press conference to introduce the concert, UNFPA Representative, Naomi Kitahara noted that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provided them with 17 development goals, but SDG5 is particularly important to“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” in all circumstances,including in crisis and humanitarian situations.

"The 2030 Agenda has pledged to leave no one behind," she said. "This means that in our development efforts, girls must be a priority. The world, including Vietnam, should ensure that all the opportunities are granted to girls as they mature into adulthood. The culture of ‘boy preference’ has to be changed, where an equal valuing of girls is something that we must instill in all the contexts because “Girls deserve to shine.”

The concert “Girls deserve to shine” will be held on November 27 from 8-10pm at the Hanoi Opera House.