Vietnam and Australia exchange experiences on women, peace and security

On November 8, in Hanoi, Vietnamese and Australian peacekeeping forces held an experience exchange session on the topic of women, peace and security in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Experience exchange session on the topic of women, peace and security between Vietnam and Australia - Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department

This is a joint activity between the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and the Office of the Defence Attaché, Australian Embassy in Vietnam, to raise awareness of gender and the UN Security Council's agenda on women, peace and security.

It is also an opportunity for the two sides to discuss and evaluate lessons learned through preparation and practice at the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the topics of women, peace and security.

This is also an activity to promote bilateral cooperation in the field of UN peacekeeping on the topic of women, peace and security between Vietnam and Australia; to build and maintain a network of experts from Australia and Vietnam in this field.

The exchange was chaired by Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, and Colonel Michael Jansen, Australian Defense Attaché in Vietnam.

At the exchange, Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh emphasized that it is noteworthy that this event took place after Vietnam and Australia signed a peacekeeping partnership agreement in March 2024.

This affirms the substantive and effective cooperation between the two sides in the field of United Nations peacekeeping.

This is the fifth time Vietnam and Australia have exchanged experiences on the topic of women, peace and security.

The two countries have successfully coordinated to organize four experience exchange activities on this topic in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 with practical results, contributing to promoting the role and effective participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

A discussion session at the exchange - Photo: Vietnam Peacekeeping Department

Vietnam with the participation of representatives of the Engineering Command, the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam Peacekeeping, Military Security, Military Medical Academy, Military Women's Committee, Military Hospital 175, the Standing Office of the Ministry of Public Security on United Nations Peacekeeping, and the Vietnam Women's Union.

In addition, there was online participation of Vietnamese military forces performing duties at UNISFA and UNMISS missions.

On the Australian side, there was direct participation of 4 experts, the Defense Attaché Office...

According to information from the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, up to now, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense has deployed 18/119 female soldiers as individuals, accounting for 15.12%.

The proportion of women deployed in the form of units is 129/930, reaching 13.87%. Vietnam strives to maintain an increasing proportion of women according to the goals set by the United Nations.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-va-australia-trao-doi-kinh-nghiem-ve-chu-de-phu-nu-hoa-binh-va-an-ninh-20241108133935281.htm