On April 22nd and 23rd, 2022, the University of Economics And Law and The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Southeast Asia organized the Workshop on the objective, methodology, and necessary skills for writing a feminist judgment.

This workshop is an activity of the project "Introduction and Implementation of Feminist Legal Theory at the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City” organized by the University of Economics and Law and the Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung South East Asia. In 2022, the project will continue to focus on achieving the goal of strengthening gender-related social justice. The project is expected to create breakthroughs by applying in-depth feminist legal theory. Therefore, the training program was organized to promote feminist legal theory in a practical approach through judgment analysis and commentary and to support scholars and researchers having a clear understanding of the objectives, methodology, and necessary skills to apply feminist theory through the application of law.

The training program had the participation of leading speakers in this field such as Prof. Rosemary Hunter from Law School, University of Kent, UK, Mr. Jörg Schultz - Head of Asia Unit at Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Mr. Ngo The Tien - former judge of the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City, and presentations from Dr. Trinh Thuc Hien, Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chung, Dr. Doan Thi Phuong Diep, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc on in-depth topics related to feminist judgments.

In the opening remark, Dr. Dao Gia Phuc, Managing Director of the Institute of International and Comparative Law, University of Economics and Law, stated that in Vietnam, judgment commentary accounts for a small number of publications, like other continental European law countries, the study and analysis of judgments are often relatively brief and do not draw attention to detailed arguments and debates. Therefore, the acquisition of the doctrine of precedent in the Vietnamese context is an opportunity to improve the style of judgment writing, in terms of thinking and argument, such as integrating feminist legal theory into judicial decisions. Besides, the idea offeminist judgment in this project was inspired by the work of Professor Rosemary Hunter. She has worked on similar projects in the UK, Australia, and the US as an editor, author, instructor, and consultant. Therefore, the University of Economics and Law is very honored to cooperate with Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung Southeast Asia in implementing this project.

In his opening speech, Mr. Philip Degenhardt, Regional Director of Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southeast Asia - Hanoi Office, confirmed the fruitful cooperation between the University of Economics and Law and the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung. The Rosa-Luxemburg Stiftung in Southeast Asia with an Office in Hanoi since 2009 has always supported the transition and development in countries towards a just society, sustainable development, and full participation of the community. The training program is a very important step of the project to strengthen social justice related to gender issues. In the long term, he believes that the project will contribute to attracting attention and raising awareness of feminist legal theory in educational institutions and other audiences in Vietnam. Finally, Mr. Philip Degenhardt congratulated the University of Economics and Law for organizing this training program.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the organising committee organized  hybrid workshop with the participation of the honorary guest speaker – Prof. Rosemary Hunter - the University of Kent, UK. She commenced her academic career in Australia before moving to the UK in 2006. Her research interests are broadly in feminist legal theory and socio-legal scholarship, with a particular focus on family law and domestic violence. In the workshop, Prof. Hunter shared with the participants the core knowlege on feminism, the application of feminism in analysing a judgment and her experience on a project of feminist judgment in various countries.

The training program attracted the interest and exchange from Prof. Rosemary Hunter and lecturers, researchers, and students from the University of Economics and Law, other universities, and interested people in feminism. Throughout two days of the workshop, the participants had meaningful time to learn from the introductary presentation of Prof. Hunter and the presentations from speakers. Furthermore, they had opportunities to share in professional and open manner. This is the first step to supporting and attracting experts and interested people to participate in the project of compiling the book The Feminist Judgment. The University of Economics and Law would like to continue fruitful and effective cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung organization in the research, training, and implementation of feminist theory in the coming time.