Vietnam highlights women’s role in peacekeeping, peacebuilding

Vietnamese female military peacekeeping officers. (Photo: phunuvietnam.vn)

A Vietnamese diplomat highlighted the role of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and underscored the need to enhance the participation of women in all political, social and economic aspects during a meeting of the UN Security Council on October 21.

It is crucial to value the women’s experience, knowledge, understanding and expertise in all fields, including peace and security, by removing barriers and facilitating transition to promote women as equal partners since the start of any peace and political process, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy told the UNSC’s open debate on “Investing in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.”

The event was attended by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women); and Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

Women’s rights, interests and needs must be guaranteed and promoted at provincial, national and international levels, and women should be given necessary skills and knowledge to meaningfully participate in all aspects of life, he said.

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy delivers a speech at the UNSC’s open debate on “Investing in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.” (Photo: VNA)

Quy emphasised that it is the responsibility of all member states to implement the WPS Agenda. All the states must take more specific and drastic actions to ensure women’s role incorporated in legal frameworks, policies, strategies and initiatives on peace and security at the national, regional and global levels, he stated.

The diplomat went on to call on the community of donors to contribute a minimum of 15 percent of its official development assistance (ODA) to advancing gender equality in conflict-affected countries.

One of Vietnam’s priorities is to foster the participation of women in all aspects of life, he said, noting that with their knowledge, wisdom, tolerance and understanding, women play a vital part in promoting a culture of peace and educating young people to appreciate peace.

Quy also took the occasion to highlight the contributions made by Vietnamese female military officers to peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic and South Sudan./.