In response to the United Nations' decision to launch the Decade of Women, the Council of Ministers on the 12th of February 1985, issued Decision No. 41-HDBT to establish the National Committee for the Decade of Women. The Prime Minister on the 25th of February 1993 issued Decision No. 72-TTg to change and upgrade the National Committee for Decade of Women into the National Committee for the Advancement of Women to fulfill its tasks, the Prime Minister now instructs:

1. Every Ministry, State Committee and General Department (hereafter referred to as Ministry) directly under the Government shall assign one member on its ministerial leadership to take charge of this work. The staff to assist the ministerial leadership in this work includes representatives of the Office of the Ministry, the Department for Organization and Personnel, the Department for Planning and Finance and the Women's Work Commission of the Trade Union organization. In branches where women make up a large part of the labor force, a "Commission for Advancement of Women" may be set up. Its composition shall be decided by the Minister.

2. The People's Committee at provinces and cities directly under the Central Government shall appoint one of its Vice Presidents to take charge of this work. This Vice President shall be assisted by a part-time staff which includes representatives of the Office of the People's Committee, the Department for Organization, the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Women's Union, the Planning Department, the Department of Finance and the Department of Labor.

3. Depending on the concrete situation at each Ministry, branch and locality, a suitable budget shall be allocated to finance the operation of the staff which assists the ministerial leader appointed to take charge of this work. The Ministries and local People's Committees shall immediately assign their leaders and staffs to the work and notify the National Committee for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women of their names during November 1994.

PHAN VAN KHAI